XVIII

Badluck,itwillbeseen,doggedthefootstepsofPriscilla.NeverindeedforasinglehouraftersheenteredCreeperCottagedidthegloomyladyceasefromherattentions.Theplacewaspervadedbyherthickandevilatmosphere.Fritzingcouldnotgooutforanairingwithoutsomethingoffar-reachingconsequencehappeningwhilehewasaway.ItwasofcourseBadLuckthatmadetheonegirlinSymfordwhowaseasilyswayedbypassingwindsoftemptationdrawthelotthatputthefive-poundnoteintoherhandsifshehadcometothecottagejustonedaylater,oriftherainhadgoneonjusthalfanhourlongerandkeptFritzingindoors,shewould,Ihavenodoubtwhatever,bestillinSymfordpractisingeveryfeeblevirtueeitheronherfatheroronherJohn,bythistimeprobablyherveryownJohn.Asitwasshewasathief,alostsoul,abanishedfaceforeverfromthewaysofgrace. Thusareweallthesportofcircumstance.ThuswasallSymfordthesportofPriscilla.Fritzingknewnothingofhisloss.HehadnottoldPriscillaawordofhismoneydifficulties,hisideabeingtokeepeverycloudfromherlifeaslongandascompletelyaspossible.Besides,howidletotalkofthesethingstosomeonewhocouldinnowayhelphimwithcounselorsuggestions.Hehadputthemoneyinhisdrawer,andthethoughtthatitwasstillunchangedandsafecomfortedhimalittleinthewatchesofthesleeplessnights. NothingparticularhappenedontheThursdaymorning,exceptthatthesecondofthetwenty-fivekeptonbreakingthings,andPriscillawhowashelpingFritzingarrangethebookshehadorderedfromLondonremarkedatthefifthterrificsmash,asmashsoterrificastocauseCreeperCottagetotrembleallover,thatmorecrockeryhadbetterbebought. "Yes,"saidFritzing,glancingswiftlyatherwithalmostaguiltyglance. HefeltverykeenlyhiswantofresourcefulnessinthismatterofgettingthemoneyoverfromGermany,butheclungtothehopethatafewmorewakefulnightswouldclearhisbrainandshowhimthewayandmeanwhiletherewasalwaysthefive-poundnoteinthedrawer. "AndFritzi,Ishallhavetogetsomeclothessoon,"Priscillawenton,dustingthebooksashehandedthemtoher. "Clothes,ma'am?"repeatedFritzing,straighteninghimselftostareather. "ThosethingsyouboughtformeinGerstein—they'redelicious,they'recuriosities,butthey'renotclothes.Imeanalwaystokeepthem.I'llhavethemputinaglasscase,andtheyshallalwaysbenearmewhenwe'rehappyagain." "Happyagain,ma'am?" "Settledagain,Imean,"quicklyamendedPriscilla. Shedustedinsilenceforalittle,andbegantoputthebooksshehaddustedintheshelves."I'dbetterwritetoParis,"shesaidpresently. Fritzingjumped."Paris,ma'am?" "They'vegotmymeasurements.Thisdresscan'tstandmuchmore.It'stheoneI'vewornallthetime.Thesoakingitgotyesterdaywasverybadforit.Youdon'tseesuchthings,butifyoudidyou'dprobablygetatremendousshock." "Ma'am,ifyouwritetoParisyoumustgiveyourownname,whichofcourseisimpossible.TheywillsendnothingtoanunknowncustomerinEnglandcalledNeumann-Schultz." "Ohbutwe'dsendthemoneywiththeorder.That'squiteeasy,isn'tit?" "Perfectlyeasy,"saidFritzinginanoddlyexasperatedvoiceatonceadding,stillmoresnappily,"MightIrequestyourGrandDucalHighnesstohavethegoodnessnottoputmy?schylus—amostvaluableedition—headdownwardsontheshelf?Itisamanneroftreatingbooksoftentobeobservedinhousemaidsandsimilarignorants.Butyou,ma'am,havebeentrainedbymeItrustinotherandmorereverentwaysofhandlingwhatislefttousofthemightyspiritsofthepast." "I'msorry,"saidPriscilla,hastilyturni