Susie stared. Clearly something extraordinary had happened, for the frosty Anna of the last few months had melted into a radiance of emotion that would only not be ridiculous if it turned out to be justified. "Two German letters," said Anna, sitting down on the nearest chair, spreading them out on her lap, and talking as though she could hardly get the words out fast enough, "one from Uncle Joachim----" "Uncle Joachim?" repeated Susie, a disagreeable and creepy doubt as to Anna's sanity coming over her. "You know very well he's dead and can't write letters," she said severely. "--and one from his lawyer," Anna went on, regardless of everything but what she had to tell. "The lawyer's letter is full of technical words, difficult to understand, but it is only to confirm what Uncle Joachim says, and his is quite plain. He wrote it some time before he died, and left it with his lawyer to send on to me." Susie was listening now with all her ears. Lawyers, deceased uncles, and Anna's sparkling face could only have one meaning. "Uncle Joachim was our mother's only brother----" "I know, I know," interrupted Susie impatiently. "--and was the dearest and kindest of uncles to me----" "Never mind what he was," interrupted Susie still more impatiently. "What has he done for you? Tell me that. You always pretended, both of you--Peter too--that he had miles of sandy places somewhere in the desert, and dozens of boys. What could he do for you?" "Do for me?" Anna rose up with a solemnity worthy of the great news about to be imparted, put both her hands on Susie's little shoulders, and looking down at her with shining eyes, said slowly, "He has left me an estate bringing in forty thousand marks a year." "Forty thousand!" echoed Susie, completely awestruck. "Marks," said Anna. "Oh, marks," said Susie, chilled. "That's francs, isn't it? I really thought for a moment----" "They're more than francs. It brings in, on an average, two thousand pounds a year. Two--thousand--pounds--a--year," repeated Anna, nodding her head at each word. "Now, Susie, what do you think of that?" "What do I think of it? Why, that it isn't much. Where would you all have been, I wonder, if I had only had two thousand a year?" "Oh, congratulate me!" cried Anna, opening her arms. "Kiss me, and tell me you are glad! Don't you see that I am off your hands at last? That we need never think about husbands again? That you will never have to buy me any more clothes, and never tire your poor little self out any more trotting me round? I don't know which of us is to be congratulated most," she added laughing, looking at Susie with her eyes full of tears. Then she insisted on kissing her again, and murmured foolish things in her ear about being so sorry for all her horrid ways, and so grateful to her, and so determined now to be good for ever and ever.