Since her happy visit there three years before, that
little household had been very near her heart, nearer
far than that of her own daughter, Louisa. But Louisa
was now to all intents and purposes an Englishwoman.

It was too true that the many years she had been
in England had not made good old Anna think better
of English people, and, as was natural, her prejudices
had lately become much intensified. She lived in a
chronic state of wonder over the laziness, the thriftlessness,
and the dirt of Englishwomen. She had described
those among whom she dwelt to her niece
Minna in the following words: "They wash themselves
from head to foot each day, but more never.
Their houses are dreadful, and linen have they not!"

Those words had represented her exact opinion
three years ago, and she had had no reason to change
it since.

On this dull, sad, November afternoon she suddenly
remembered the delightful _Ausflug,_ or "fly out," as
it is so happily called, when she had accompanied
Willi and his Minna to Wannsee, on the blue Havel.

How happy they had all been that day! The little
party had brought their own coffee and sugar, but
they had had many a delicious glass of beer as well.
All had been joy and merriment.

It was bitter to know that some people heard from
Germany even now. There was little doubt in her
mind that Manfred Hegner, or rather Alfred Head,
as she was learning to call him at his very particular
request, was in communication with the Fatherland.
He had as good as said so the last time she had seen
him; adding the unnecessary warning that she must

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p222 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p223w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p224

v?