V

.InthisabjectlythankfulmoodwasFritzingwhenhefoundhisworstagoniesweredone.Whatwastocomeafterhereallyforthemomentdidnotcare.ItwassufficienttoexistuntormentedandtolethissoulstretchitselfintheprivacyandpeaceofBaker's.HeandhisPrincesshadmadeagreatandnobleefforttowardstherealizationofdreamsthathefeltwerelofty,andthegodssofarhadbeenwiththem.AllthatfirstmorninginSymfordhehadanoddlyrestful,unburdenedfeeling,asofhavingbeenbornagainandbornagedtwenty-fiveandthosepersonswhousedtobetwenty-fivethemselveswillperhapsagreethatthismusthavebeenrathernice.HedidnotstirfromtheparlourlestthePrincessshouldcomedownandwanthim,andhespentthewaitinghoursgettinginformationfromMrs.PearceandinforminghermindinhisturnwithjustthatamountofknowledgeabouthimselfandhisniecethathewishedSymfordtopossess.WithimpressiveearnestnesshetoldherhisnamewasNeumann,repeatingitthreetimes,almostasifindefianceofcontradictionthathisniecewashisdeceasedbrother'schildthatherChristianname—herehewassweptawaybyinspiration—wasMaria-TheresathathehadsavedenoughasateacherofGermaninLondontoretireintothecountryandthathewaslookingforacottageinwhichtospendhisfewremainingyears. Itallsoundedveryinnocent.Mrs.Pearcelistenedwithherheadononesideandwithsomethingoftheairofasparrowwhodoesn'tfeelwell.ShecomplimentedhimsadlyonthefluencyofhisEnglish,andtoldhimwithasighthatinnocottagewouldheeveragainfindthecomfortswithwhichBaker'swasnowsurroundinghim. Fritzingwassurprisedtohearhersayso,forhisimpressionshadallbeentheotherway.Asfarashe,inexperiencedman,couldtell,Baker'swasasingularlydraughtyandunscrubbedplace.Hesmeltthatitsfiressmoked,heheardthatitswindowsrattled,heknewthatitsmattresseshadlumpsinthem,andhesawthatitsfoodwasinextricablymixedupwithobjectsofablackandgrittynature.Buthercalmfaceandsorrowfulassuranceshooktheevidenceofhissenses,andgazingatherinsilenceoverhisspectaclesafeelingcreptdimlyacrosshisbrainthatifthefutureheldmanydealingswithwomenlikeMrs.Pearcehewasgoingtobeveryhelpless. Priscillaappearedwhilehewasgazing.Shewasdressedforgoingoutandcameinbuttoninghergloves,andIsupposeitwasalongtimesinceBaker'shadseenanythingquitesoradiantinthewayofnieceswithinitsdustywalls.Shehadontheclothesshehadtravelledin,forasearchamongthegarmentsboughtbyFritzinghadresultedinnothingbutasittingonthesideofthebedandlaughingtears,soitwasclearlynottheclothesthatmadeherseemallofasparklewithlovelyyouthandblitheness.KunitzwouldnothaverecognizeditsivoryPrincessinthisbrightbeing.Shewasthestatuecometolife,thecoolperfectionkissedbyexpectationintoabewitchinglivingwoman.IdoubtwhetherFritzinghadevernoticedherbeautywhileatKunitz.Hehadseenhereverydayfromchildhoodon,anditisprobablethathisattentionbeingalwaysrivetedonhersoulhehadneverreallyknownwhenherbodyleftoffbeinglankyandfreckled.Hesawitnow,howeverhewouldhavebeenblindifhehadnotanditsethimvibratingwiththethrobofanewresponsibility.Mrs.Pearcesawittoo,andstaredastonishedatthisoddlyinappropriateniece.ShestaredstillmorewhenFritzing,jumpingupfromhischair,bentoverthehandPriscillaheldoutandkisseditwithadevotionandrespectwhollyabsentfromthemannerofMrs.Pearce'sownuncles.She,therefore,withdrewintoherkitchen,andbeingapersonoflittleculturecrudelyexpressedherwonderbythinking"Lor."Towhich,afteranintervalofvaguemeanderingsamongsaucepans,sheaddedtheelucidation,"Foreigners." HalfanhourlaterLadyShuttleworth'sagent,Mr.Dawson,wasdisturbedathisteabytheannouncementthatagentlemanwishedtospeaktohim.Mr.Dawsonwasabluffperson,andsomethingofatyrant,forhereignedsupremeinSymfordafterLadyShuttleworth,andtoreignsupremeoveranybody,evenoverahandfulofcottagers,doesbringoutwhatamanmayhaveinhimoftyrant.AnothercircumstancethatbringsthisoutisthepossessionofameekwifeandMr.Dawson'swifewasreallysoverymeekthatIfearwhentheDayofReckoningcomesmuchofthistyrannywillbeforgivenhimandlaidtoheraccount.Mr.Dawson,infact,representedanunendingseriesofpitfallssetalonghiswife'spathbyFate,intoev