III

sumbrella.ThiswasthenewumbrellaboughtbyhimwithsomuchtroubleinGersteintwodaysbefore,andthereforepresumablyofasufficienttoughnesstostandanyreasonabletreatmentforatime.TherewasamistandadrizzleatCalais,andPriscilla,refusingtogoundershelter,hadsentFritzingtofetchherumbrella,andwhenhedemandeditofAnnalise,sheofferedithimintwopieces.Thisalonewasenoughtoupsetawiseman,becausewisemenareeasilyupsetbutAnnalisedeclaredbesidesthattheumbrellahadbrokenitself.Itprobablyhad.Whatmaynotoneexpectofanythingsocheap?Fritzing,however,wasmaddenedbythisexplanation,andwastedquitealongtimepointingouttoherinpassionatelanguagethatitwasaninanimateobject,andthatinanimateobjectshavenoinitiativeandneverthereforebreakthemselves.TowhichAnnalise,withastoutnessominousasarevelationofcharacter,repliedbyrepeatingherdeclarationthattheumbrellahadcertainlybrokenitself.Thenitwasthatheshookhisfistatherandcalledherfool.Sogreatlywashemovedthat,afterwalkingawayandthinkingitover,hewenttoherasecondtimeandshookhisfistatherandcalledherknave. Iwillnotlingeroverthisoftheumbrellaitteemswithlessons. WhileitwasgoingonthePrincesswasbeingveryhappy.Shewassittingunnoticedinadeck-chairandfeelingshewasreallyoffatlastintotheIdeal.Someofusknowthefascinationofthatfeeling,andallofusknowthefascinationofnewthingsandtobeunnoticedwasforherofamostthrillingnewness.Nobodylookedather.Peoplewalkedupanddownthedeckinfrontofherasthoughshewerenotthere.Onehurriedpassengeractuallytrippedoverherfeet,andpassedonwiththebriefestapology.Everywhereshesawindifferentfaces,indifferent,obliviousfaces.Itwassimplyglorious.AndshehadhadnotrialssinceleavingGerstein.ThereFritzinghadremovedherbeyondtherangeofthemother'seyes,grownatlastextremelycoldandpiercingAnnalise,allmeekanxietytoplease,hadputhertobedinthesleeping-caroftheBrusselsexpressandinthemorningherjoyhadbeenchildishathavingalittletraywithbadcoffeeonitthrustinbyabusyattendant,whoslammeditdownonthetableandhurriedoutwithoutsomuchasglancingather.Howdeliciousthatwas.ThePrincesslaug