XV

vemindedthepain?—andheputhishandupquicklytohisface.Priscillagotupjustasquicklyoutofherchairandrangthehandbellfuriously,hereyesonhis,herfaceablaze.Annalisemusthavethrownherselfdowntheladder,fortheyhardlyseemedtohavebeenstandingthereaninstantfacetoface,theireyesonalevel,hescarlet,shewhite,bothdeadlysilent,beforethemaidwasintheroom. "Thispersonhasinsultedme,"saidPriscilla,turningtoherandpointingatRobin."Henevercomeshereagain.Don'tletmefindyouforgettingthat,"sheadded,frowningatthegirlforsherememberedtheyhadbeenseentalkingeagerlytogetheratthechildren'streat. "Inever"—beganRobin. "Willyougo?" Annaliseopenedthedoorforhim.Hewentout,andsheshutitbehindhim.Thenshewalkedsedatelyacrosstheroomagain,lookingsidewaysatthePrincess,whotooknonoticeofherbutstoodmotionlessbythetablegazingstraightbeforeher,herlipscompressed,herfacesetinakindoffrozenwhiterage,andhavinggotintothebathroomAnnalisebegantorun.Sheranoutatthebackdoor,inagainatFritzing'sbackdoor,outathisfrontdoorintothestreet,andcaughtupRobinashewasturningdownthelanetothevicarage."Whathaveyoudone?"sheaskedhimbreathlessly,inGerman. "Done?"Robinthrewbackhisheadandlaughedquiteloud. "Sh—sh,"saidAnnalise,glancingbackfearfullyoverhershoulder. "Done?"saidRobin,subduinghisbittermirth."WhatdoyousupposeI'vedone?I'vedonewhatanymanwouldhaveinmyplace—encouraged,almostaskedtodoit.Ikissedyouryounglady,liebesFr?ulein,andshepretendednottolikeit.Nowisn'tthatwhatasensiblegirllikeyouwouldcallabsurd?" ButAnnalisestartedbackfromthehandheheldouttoheringenuinehorror."What?"shecried,"What?" "What?What?"mockedRobin."Wellthen,what?AreyouallsuchprudesinGermany?Evenyoupretending,youlittlehypocrite?" "Oh,"criedAnnalisehysterically,pushinghimawaywithbothherhands,"whathaveyoudone?ElenderJunge,whathaveyoudone?" "Ithinkyoumustallbemad,"saidRobinangrily."Youcan'tpersuademethatnobodyeverkissesanybodyoverinGermany." "Ohyestheydo—ohyestheydo,"criedAnnalise,wringingherhands,"butneithertherenoranywhereelse—inEngland,anywhereintheworld—dothesonsofpastors—thesonsofpastors—"Sheseemedtostruggleforbreath,andtwistedanduntwistedherapronroundherhandsinastormofagitationwhileRobin,utterlyastonished,staredather—"Neithertherenoranywhereelsedothey—thesonsofpastors—kiss—kissroyalprincesses." ItwasnowRobin'sturntosay"What?"