XIV

EarlyinthisstoryIpointedoutwhattotheintelligentmusthavebeenfromthebeginningapparent,thatAnnaliseheldPriscillaandFritzinginthehollowofherhand.Inthefirstexcitementofthestartshehadnotnoticedit,butduringthosewoefuldaysofdisillusionmentatBaker'sshesawitwithanever-growingclearnessandsinceSunday,sincethedayshefoundasmilingyounggentlemanreadytotalkGermantoherandanswerquestions,shewasperfectlyawarethatshehadonlytocloseherhandandhervictimswouldsqueezeintoanyshapesheliked.Sheproposedtodothisclosingatthefirstmomentofsheerintolerableness,andthatmomentseemedwellreachedwhensheenteredCreeperCottageandrealizedwhattheattic,thekitchen,andthepumpreallymeant. Itisalwaysashocktofindone'sselfinthecompanyofawormthatturns,alwaysashockandanamazementaspectacleonenever,somehow,getsusedto.Buthowdreadfuldoesitbecomewhenoneisinthepoweroftheworm,andthewormisresentful,andreadytosqueezetoanyextent.FritzingreflectedbitterlythatAnnalisemightquitewellhavebeenleftathome.Quitewell?Athousandtimesbetter.Whathadshedonebutwhineduringherpassiveperiod?Andnowthatshewasactive,avolcanoinfullactivityhurlingforthhotstreamsoftreacheryontwomostharmlessheads,she,theinsignificant,thebase-born,theempty-brained,wasactuallygoingtobeabletoruintheplansofthenoblestwomanonearth. ThusthoughtFritzing,moppinghisforehead.Annalisehadrushedawaytoheratticafterflingingherdefianceathim,herspiritreadytodareanythingbutherbodytoosmall,shefelt,toriskstayingwithinreachofamanwholookedmorelikesomebodywhomeanttoshakeherthananyoneshehadeverseen.Fritzingmoppedhisforehead,andmoppedandmoppedagain.Hestoodwhereshehadlefthim,hiseyesfixedontheground,hisdistresssoextremethathewasquitenearcrying.Whatwashetodo?WhatwashetosaytohisPrincess?Howwashetostopthegirl'sgoingbacktoKunitz?HowwashetostophergoingevensofarasyoungMorrison?ThatsheshouldtellyoungMorrisonwhoPriscillawaswouldindeedbeaterriblething.ItwouldendtheirbeingabletoliveinSymford.ItwouldendtheirbeingabletoliveinEngland.TheGrandDukewouldbeafterthem,andtherewouldhavetobeanotherflighttoanothercountry,anotherstartthere,anothersearchforahome,anothersetofexplanations,pretences,fears,lies,—thingsofwhichhewassoweary.Buttherewassomethingelse,somethingworsethananyofthesethings,thatmadeFritzingmophisforeheadwithsoextremeadesperation:Annalisehaddemandedthemoneyduetoher,andFritzinghadnomoney. IamafraidFritzingwasnevermeantforaconspirator.Naturenevermeanthimtobeaplotter,anarrangerofunpleasantsurprisesforparents.Shenevermeanthimtorunaway.Shemeanthim,probably,tospendhisdayscommuningwiththepastinaloftyroomwithdistemperedwallsandbustsroundthem.Thatheshouldbeforcedtoact,todecide,tobeartful,towranglewithmaids,tomakeendsmeet,tosqueezehislongframeandexplosivedispositionintoaCreeperCottagewhereonlyanill-fittingdoorseparatedhimfromthenoiseandfumesofthekitchen,wassurelyacrueltrickofFat