soft hands clenched into pathetic fists. "He shall not--" he began
with a brave bluster, but then stopped, realizing his own
helplessness.

"What can you do?" asked Mrs. Vanderlyn, and smiled again that twisted
little smile which was her counterfeit of the sweet look of sympathy.
"I am only doing what is right and what is necessary. I am,
naturally, most indignant at this betrayal of my confidence. I will
not interfere to save the girl from justice!"

From behind the kitchen door, at this, Herr Kreutzer thought he heard
a sound as of swift breath indrawn through tight-set, angry teeth, but
was not sure. It might have been his own. He was so terribly excited
that he did not know. Certainly, from now, his angry breathing was
quite audible. His little Anna taken to a prison! No! "She shall not
be punished!" he exclaimed in wrath.

Mrs. Vanderlyn looked at him, for a second, as might one look at an
unpleasant child who is a disappointment. Then she for the first time
showed a little wrath towards him. Up to that moment her calm,
maddening attitude of skin-deep sympathy had been unbroken. She spoke
sharply, now, however, as she countered: "That will not depend on
you."

"It _shall_ depend on me!" said Kreutzer, hotly.

"There is but one thing which will lighten the severity of the bad
girl's punishment," said Mrs. Vanderlyn, didactically.

"And that, Madame?"