Page:H.M. The Patrioteer.djvu/328

320 shrugged her shoulders, but her face remained motionless. "Well?" he repeated more softly, for her look, her demeanour, which seemed remarkably indifferent and therefore, superior, made it difficult for him to be rough. Finally she decided to speak.

"It was possible that the two Fraulein von Britzens might have come."

"So late at night?" asked Diederich. Then Guste said: "Because we are not accustomed to that honour. And anyhow, they went away yesterday with their mamma. If they do not even say good-bye to people, because they do not even know them, all one has to do is to go past their villa to know that they are gone."

"What?" said Emma.

"Why, certainly!" Beaming with triumph Guste told her the whole story. "The lieutenant will soon follow them. He has been transferred." She paused, and looked up. "He has had himself transferred." "You're a liar!" cried Emma. She had swayed and was visibly holding herself erect. With her head high she turned and let the curtain fall behind her. There was silence in the room. Old Frau Hessling on the sofa folded her hands, Guste looked defiantly at Diederich, who rushed up and down fuming. When he reached the door again he gave a start. Through the opening he caught a glimpse of Emma who was sitting, or rather hanging, huddled up in a chair, as if she had been tied up and thrown there. She quivered, then turned her face towards the lamp. Just before it had been quite pale and it was now deep red. She was looking with unseen eyes. Suddenly she sprang up, rushed off as if she were on fire, and with angry, uncertain steps she dashed out, knocking against things without feeling them, out as if into a mist, into a fog. &hellip; With increasing anxiety Diederich turned to his wife and his mother. As Guste seemed disposed to be disrespectful he pulled himself together, with his accustomed good form, and marched stiffly after Emma.