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overhiseyesashealwaysdidinmomentsofgreatmentalstress. "Whatafuss,"thoughtPriscillawearily.Aloudshesaid,"Thegirlhereto-daywilltellyouwhereshelives.Ofcourseshehasforgotten,ornotbeenabletochangeityet."Andshelefthim,andwentouttogetintoherownhalfofthehouse. Yes,Fritzireallywasatrial.Whysuchafussandsuchbigwordsaboutfivepounds?Ifitwerelostandthegirlafraidtocomeandsayso,itdidn'tmattermuchanyhownothinglikesomuchashavingone'speaceupset.Howfoolishtobesoagitatedandtalkofhavingbeenrobbedofeverything.Fritzing'smind,shefeared,thatlarge,enlightenedmindonwhosebreadthandserenityshehadgazedadmiringlyeversinceshecouldremembergazingatall,wasshrinkingtodimensionsthatwouldpresentlyexactlymatchthedimensionsofCreeperCottage.Shewentupstairsdisheartenedandtired,anddroppingdownfulllengthonhersofadesiredAnnalisetowashherface. "YourGrandDucalHighnesshasbeenweeping,"saidAnnalise,whiskingthespongeinandoutofcornerswithaskillsurprisinginonewhohadonlypractisedtheprocessduringthelasttendays. Priscillaopenedhereyestostareatherinfrankestsurprise,forneveryethadAnnalisedaredmakearemarkunrequested.Annalise,bybeginningtowashthem,forcedhertoshutthemagain. Priscillathenopenedhermouthtotellherwhatshethoughtofher.ImmediatelyAnnalise'sswiftspongestoppeditup. "YourGrandDucalHighness,"saidAnnalise,washingPriscilla'smouthwithathoroughnessandanamountofwatersuggestiveofitsnothavingbeenwashedformonths,"toldmeonlyyesterdaythatweepingwasaterrible—schreckliche—wasteoftime.Therefore,sinceyourGrandDucalHighnessknowsthatandyetherselfweeps,itiseasytoseethatthereexistsareasonforweepingwhichmakesweepinginevitable." "Willyou—"beganPriscilla,onlytobestoppedinstantlybythereadysponge. "YourGrandDucalHighnessisunhappy.'Tisnottobewonderedat.Trustafaithfulservant,onewhoselife-bloodisatyourGrandDucalHighness'sdisposal,andtellherifitisnotthentruethattheHerrGeheimrathhasdecoyedyoufromyourhomeandyourGrossherzoglicherHerrPapa?" "Willyou—" Againthepouncingsponge. "Myheartbleeds—indeeditbleeds—tothinkoftheHerrPapa'ssufferings,hisfears,hisanxieties.ItisapictureonwhichIcannotcalmlylook.Dayandnight—foratnightIliesleeplessonmybed—Iaminquiringofmyselfwhatitcanbe,thespellthattheHerrGeheimrathhascastoveryourGrandDucal—" "Willyou—" AgainthepouncingspongebutthistimePriscillacaughtthegirl'shand,andholdingitatarm'slengthsatup."Areyoumad?"sheasked,lookingatAnnaliseasthoughshesawherforthefirsttime. Annalisedroppedthespongeandclaspedherhands."Notmad,"shesaid,"onlyvery,verydevoted." "No.Mad.Givemeatowel." Priscillawassoangrythatshedidnotdaresaymore.IfshehadsaidapartevenofwhatshewantedtosayallwouldhavebeenoverbetweenherselfandAnnalisesoshedriedherfaceinsilence,decliningtoallowittobetouched."Youcango,"shesaid,glancingatthedoor,herfacepalewithsuppressedwrathbutalso,itmustbeconfessed,verycleanandwhenshewasaloneshedroppedonceagainontothesofaandburiedherheadinthecushion.HowdaredAnnalise?Howdaredshe?Howdaredshe?Priscillaaskedherselfoverandoveragain,wincing,furious.Whyhadshenotthoughtofthis,knownthatshewouldbeinthepowerofanyservanttheychosetobring?Surelytherewasnolimit,positivelynone,towhatthegirlmightdoorsay?Howwasshegoingtobearherabouther,endurethesightandsoundofthatveiledimpertinence?Sheburiedherheadverydeepinthecushion,vainlystrivingtoblotouttheworldandAnnaliseinitsfeathers,buteventheretherewasnopeace,forsuddenlyagreatnoiseofdoorsgoingandlegsstridingpenetratedthroughitsstuffinessandshehe