XII

關燈
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