VII

zhadcompletelyfadedfromPriscilla'smindandtheRoyalHighnesswaswelltothefore.ShecertainlyfrownedatTussieandaskedherselfwhatcouldpossessthemantokeeponspeakingtoher.Keeponspeaking!PoorTussie.Aloudshesaidfreezingly,"Didyousaysomething?" "Yes,"saidTussie,hiseyesonhermouth—surelyamouthonlymadeforkindnessandgentlewords."Iwaswonderingwhetheryouwerestayingatthevicarage." "No,"saidPriscilla,"we'restayingatBaker'sFarm."AndatthementionofthatdecayedlodgingthefriendlySchultzexpressioncreptback,smilingintohereyes. Tussiestoppedshort."Baker'sFarm?"hesaid."Why,thenthisisthewaydownhere,totheright.It'sonlyafewyardsfromhere." "Wereyougoingthatwaytoo?" "IliveontheothersideofSymford." "Thengood-byeandthankyou." "Pleaseletmegowithyouasfarasthehigh-road—it'salmostdark." "Ohno—Ican'tlosemyselfagainifit'sonlyafewyards." Shenodded,andwasturningdownthelane. "Areyou—areyoucomfortablethere?"heaskedhurriedly,blushing."ThePearcesaretenantsofours.Ihopetheymakeyoucomfortable?" "Oh,we'reonlygoingtobethereafewdays.Myuncleisbuyingacottage,andweshallleavealmostdirectly." ThegirlEthelnoddedandsmiledandwentawayquicklyintotheduskandTussierodehomethoughtfully,planningelaborateplansforadescentthenextdayuponBaker'sFarmthatshouldhavethenecessaryairofinevitableness. FritzingwasragingupanddowntheroadinfrontofthegatewhenPriscillaemerged,fiveminuteslater,fromtheshadowsofthelane.Sheranuptohimandputherarmthroughhis,andlookedupathimwithafaceofgreatpenitence."DearFritzi,"shesaid,"I'msosorry.I'vebeenmakingyouanxious,haven'tI?Forgiveme—itwasthefirsttasteofliberty,anditgotintomyfeetandsetthemoffexploring,andthenIlostmyself.Haveyoubeenworrying?" Hewasimmenselyagitated,andadministeredsomethingverylikeascolding,andheurgedtheextremedesirabilityoftakingAnnalisewithherinfuturewherevershewent—("Ohnonsense,Fritzi,"interjectedPriscilla,drawingawayherarm)—andhedeclaredinavoicethattrembledthatitwasamostintolerablethoughtforhimthattwostrangemenshouldhavedaredaddressherinthechurchyard,thathewouldneverforgivehimselfforhavinglefthertherealone—("Oh,Fritzi,howsilly,"interjectedPriscilla)—andhebeggedheralmostwithtearstotellhimexactlywhatshehadsaidtothem,forherGrandDucalHighnessmustseethatitwasofthefirstimportancetheyshouldbothsaythesamethingstopeople. Priscilladeclaredshehadsaidnothingatallbutwhatwasquitediplomatic,infactquitecleverindeed,shehadbeensurprisedatthewayideashadseemedtoflow. "Soplease,"shefinished,"don'tlookatmewithsuchlamentableeyes." "Ma'am,didyounottellthemournameisSchultz?" "Butsoitis." "Itisnot,ma'am.OurnameisNeumann." Priscillastaredastonished."Neumann?"shesaid."Nonsense,Fritzi.WhyshoulditbeNe