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lingit. "Thereshegoesagain,"sniffedMrs.Pearce."It'scry,cry,frommorningtillnight,andnothinggoodenoughforher.It'samercyshegoesoutofthisto-morrow.Ineverseesuchanimage." "Tellme,"imploredAnnalise,"tellmequick,beforemymistress—" "I'llwriteitforyou,"saidRobin,takingthenote-bookfromher."Youknowyougointoacottagenextweek,soI'llputyournewaddress."Andhewroteitinalargeroundhandandgaveittoherquickly,forMrs.PearcewaslisteningtoallthisGermanandwatchinghimwritewithalookthatmadehimfeelcheap.SocheapdiditmakehimfeelthatheresistedforthepresenthisdesiretogoonquestioningAnnalise,andputtinghishandsinhispocketssaunteredawaytotheotherendofthekitchenwherePriscillasatlookingon."I'mafraidthatreallywascheapofme,"hethoughtruefully,whenhecameoncemoreintoPriscilla'ssweetpresencebuthecomfortedhimselfwiththereflectionthatnogirloughttobemysterious,andifthisonechosetobesoitwasfairtocrossherplansoccasionally.YethewentonfeelingcheapandwhenTussiewhowashurryingalongwithacupofchocolateineachhandranintohimandspiltsomeonhissleevethesuddenragewithwhichhesaid"Confoundyou,Tussie,"hadlittletodowiththehotstuffsoakingthroughtohisskinandagreatdealwiththeconvictionthatTussie,despisedfromtheircommonchildhoodforhisweakness,smallnessandugliness,wouldneverhavedonewhathehadjustdoneandbetrayedwhatthegirlhadchosentokeepsecretfromhermaid. "Butwhysecret?Why?Why?"askedRobin,tornwithdesiretofindoutallaboutPriscilla. "I'mgoingtodothisoften,"saidPriscilla,lookingupathimwithapleasedsmile."Ineversawsucheasilyamusedlittlecreatures.Don'tyouthinkitisbeautiful,togivepoorpeopleafewhappymomentssometimes?" "Verybeautiful,"saidRobin,hiseyesonherface. "ItiswhatImeantodoinfuture,"shesaiddreamily,herchinonherhand. "Itwillbeexpensive,"remarkedRobinfortherewerenearlytwohundredchildren,andPriscillahadcollectedthestrangestthingsinfoodonthelongtablesasaresultofhermethod,wheninviting,ofaskingeachmotherwhatherchildbestlikedtoeatandthenorderingitwiththelavishnessofignorancefromMinehead. "Oh,weshalllivesosimplyourselvesthattherewillbeenoughlefttodoallIwant.Anditwillbethemostblessedchangeandrefreshment,livingsimply.FritzihatedthefussandluxuryquiteasmuchasIdid." "Didhe?"saidRobin,holdinghisbreath.Thegirlwasevidentlyoffherguard.HehadnotheardhercallherunclebaldlyFritzibeforeandwhatfussandluxurycouldaGermanteacher'slifehaveknown? "Heitwaswhofirstmademeseethatthebodyismorethanmeatandthesoulthanraiment,"musedPriscilla. "Washe?" "Hepulledmysouloutoftheflesh-pots.I'masortofIsraelcomeoutofEgypt,butanEgyptthatwasaltogethertoocomfortable." "Toocomfortable?Canonebetoocomfortable?" "Iwas.Icouldn'tmoveorseeorbreatheforcomfort.Itwaslikeafeatherbedalloverme." "Iwouldn'tcallthatcomfort,"saidRobin,forshepaused,andhewasafraidshewasnotgoingon."Itsoundsmuchmoreliketorture." "Soitwasatlast.AndFritzihelpedmetoshakeitoff.Ifhehadn'tI'dhavesmotheredslowly,andperhapsifI'dneverknownhimI'dhavedoneitasgracefullyasmysistersdid.Why,theydon