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edtoBaker's,thankfultofindwhenhegottherethatPriscilla'sbeautyandtheinterestofthemysterythathungaboutherwipedouteveryotherremembrance.
Priscillawasinthebigfarmkitchen,lookingonatthechildrenhavingtea.Thatwasallshedidatherparty,exceptgoroundeverynowandthensayingpleasantlittlethingstoeachchildbutthisgoingroundwasdoneinsoaccomplishedamanner,sheseemedsousedtoit,wassowellprovidedwithanapparentlyendlesssupplyofappropriateremarks,wassokind,andyetso—whatwastheword?coulditbemechanical?—thatRobinforthehundredthtimefoundhimselfponderingoversomethingodd,half-remembered,elusiveaboutthegirl.Thentherewastheunclemanifestlyamanwhohadneverbeforebeenrequiredtoassistataschool-treat,manifestlyonthisoccasionanunhappyman,yetlookhowheworkedwhileshesatidlywatching,lookhowhelabouredroundwithcakesandbread-and-butter,clumsily,strenuously,withalltheheatandanxietyofoneeagertopleaseandobey.Yes,thatwaswhathedidRobinhadhitonitatlast.ThisextraordinaryuncleobeyedhisnieceandRobinknewverywellthatGermanywasthelastcountryintheworldtoproducemenwhodidthat.HadhenotacousinwhohadmarriedaGermanofficer?Awhilomgayandsprightlycousin,whospenthertime,asshedolefullywrote,havinghermindweededofitsgreengrowthoflittleopinionsandgravelledandrolledandstampedwiththeopinionsofhermalerelations-in-law."AndI'dratherhaveweedsthangravel,"shewroteatthebeginningofthisprocesswhenshewasstillrestiveundertheroller,"fortheyatleastaregreen."Butlongagoshehadleftoffcomplaining,longagoshetoohadenteredintotherestthatremainethforhimwhohasgivenup,whohasbecomewhatmenpraiseasreasonableandgodsdeploreasdull,whoistiredofbothering,tiredoftrying,tiredofeverythingbutsleep.Thentherewasthegirl'smaid.ThiswasthefirsttimeRobinhadseenherandwhileshewashelpingMrs.PearcepouroutcupsofchocolateandputaheapedspoonfulofwhippedcreamonthetopofeachcupinthefashionfamiliartoGermansandaltogetherlovelyintheeyesofthechildrenofSymford,Robinwenttoherandofferedhelp.
Annaliselookedathimwithheavyeyes,andshookherhead.
"Shedon'tspeaknoEnglish,sir,"explainedMrs.Pearce."Thisone'spureheathen."
"NoEnglish,"echoedAnnalisedrearily,whohadatleastlearnedthatmuch,"noEnglish,noEnglish."
RobingathereduphiscrumbsofGermanandpresentedthemtoherwithasmile.Immediatelyonhearingherowntonguesheflaredintolife,andwhippingoutalittlepocket-bookandpencilaskedhimeagerlywhereshewas.
"Whereyouare?"repeatedRobin,astonished.
"Ja,Ja.Theaddress.Thisaddress.Whatisit?WhereamI?"
"What,don'tyouknow?"
"Tellme—quick,"beggedAnnalise.
"Butwhy—Idon'tunderstand.YoumustknowyouareinEngland?"
"England!NaturallyIknowitisEngland.Butthis—whereisit?Whatisitsaddress?Forletterstoreachme?Quick—tellmequick!"
Robin,however,wouldnotbequick."Whyhasnoonetoldyou?"heasked,withanimmensecuriosity.
"Ach,Ihavenotbeentold.Iknownothing.Iamkeptinthedarklike—likeaprisoner."AndAnnalisedraggedherhandkerchiefoutofherpocket,andputittohereyesjustintimetostopherreadytearsfromfallingintothewhippedcreamandspoi