XIV

關燈
atAnnalisewouldsosoonneedmorebribingforthatwasclearlytheonlythingtodo.Hesawitwastheonlything,afterhehadstoodforsometimethinkingandwipingthecoldsweatfromhisforehead.Shemustbebribed,silenced,giveninto.Hemustpartwithasmuchashepossiblycouldofthatlastfortypoundsasmuch,also,ashepossiblycouldofhispride,andsubmittohavethehussy'sfootonhisneck.Someday,someday,thoughtFritzinggrindinghisteeth,hewouldbeevenwithherandwhenthatdaycamehepromisedhimselfthatitshouldcertainlybeginwithasoundshaking."Truly,"hereflected,"thefoolishthingsoftheworldconfoundthewise,andtheweakthingsoftheworldconfoundthethingsthataremighty."Andhewentout,andstandinginthebackyardbeneathAnnalise'swindowsoftlycalledtoher."Fr?ulein,"calledFritzing,softlyasadovewooingitsmate. "Aha,"thoughtAnnalise,sittingonherbed,quicktomarkthechangebutshedidnotmove. "Fr?ulein,"calledFritzingagainanditwashardlyacallsomuchasamelodiousmurmur. Annalisedidnotmove,butshegrinned. "Fr?ulein,comedownonemoment,"cooedFritzing,whoseheadwasquiteneartheatticwindowsolowwasCreeperCottage."Iwishtospeaktoyou.Iwishtogiveyousomething." Annalisedidnotmove,butshestuffedherhandkerchiefintohermouthforthefirsttimesincesheleftCalaisshewasenjoyingherself. "If,"wentonFritzingafterananxiouspause,"Iwassharpwithyoujustnow—andIfearImayhavebeenhasty—youshouldnottakeitamissfromonewho,likeBrutus,issickofmanygriefs.Comedown,Fr?ulein,andletmemakeamends." ThePrincess'sbellrang.AtoncehabitimpelledAnnalisetothatwhichFritzing'spleadingswouldneverhaveeffectedshescrambleddowntheladder,andleavinghimstillunderherwindowpresentedherselfbeforehermistresswithherusualfaceofmeekrespect. "Isaidtea,"saidPriscillaverydistinctly,lookingatherwithslightlyliftedeyebrows. Annalisecurtseyedanddisappeared. "HowfearfullypoliteGermanmaidsare,"remarkedTussie. "Inwhatway?"askedPriscilla. "Thosecurtseys.They'remagnificent." "Don'tEnglishmaidscurtsey?" "NonethatI'veeverseen.Perhapstheydotoroyalties." "Oh?"saidPriscillawithalittlejump.ShewasstillsomuchunnervedbytheunexpectedmeetingwithherfatheronthewallofCreeperCottagethatshecouldnotpreventthelittlejump. "WhatwouldGermanmaidsdo,Iwonder,indealingwithroyalties,"saidTussie,"iftheycurtseysobeautifullytoordinarymistresses?They'dhavetogodownontheirkneestoaprincess,wouldn'tthey?" "HowshouldIknow?"saidPriscilla,irritably,alarmedtofeelshewasturningredandwithgreatdeterminationshebegantotalkliterature. FritzingwaslyinginwaitforAnnalise,andcaughtherasshecameintothebathroom. "Fr?ulein,"saidthemiserablemantryingtoscrewhisfaceintopersuasiveness,"youcannotletthePrincessgowithouttea." "YesIcan,"saidAnnalise. Hethrusthishandsintohispocketstokeepthemoffhershoulders. "Makeitthisonce,Fr?ulein,andIwillhireawomanofthevillagetomakeitinfuture.Andsee,youmustnotleavethePrincess'sse