XIV
關燈
小
中
大
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