"My _dear_ Anna," remonstrated Susie, who disliked sentiment and never knew how to respond to exhibitions of feeling. "Of course I congratulate you. It almost seems as if throwing away one's chances in the way you have done was the right thing to do, and is being rewarded. Don't let us waste time. You know we go out to dinner. What has he left Peter?" "Peter?" said Anna wonderingly. "Yes, Peter. He was his nephew, I suppose, just as much as you were his niece." "Well, but Susie, Peter is different. He--he doesn't need money as I do; and of course Uncle Joachim knew that." "Nonsense. He hasn't got a penny. Let me look at the letters." "They're in German. You won't be able to read them." "Give them to me. I learned German at school, and got a prize. You're not the only person in the world who can do things." She took them out of Anna's hand, and began slowly and painfully to read the one from Uncle Joachim, determined to see whether there really was no mention of Peter. Anna looked on, hot and cold by turns with fright lest by some chance her early studies should not after all have been quite forgotten. "Here's something about Peter--and me," Susie said suddenly. "At least, I suppose he means me. It is something Dobbs. Why does he call me that? It hasn't been my name for fifteen years." "Oh, it's some silly German way. He says the _geborene_ Dobbs, to distinguish you from other Lady Estcourts." "But there are no others." "Oh, well, his sister was one. Give me the letter, Susie--I can tell you what he says much more quickly than you can read it." "'_Unter der Würde einer jünge Dame aus guter Familie_,'" read out Susie slowly, not heeding Anna, and with the most excruciating pronunciation that was ever heard, "'_sich ewig auf den Federn, mit welchen die bürgerliche Gans geborene Dobbs Peters sonst mangelhaftes Nest ausgestattet hat, zu wälzen_.' What stuff he writes. I can hardly understand it. Yet I must have been good at it at school, to get the prize. What is that bit about me and Peter?" "Which bit?" said Anna, blushing scarlet. "Let me look." She got the letter back into her possession. "Oh, that's where he says that--that he doesn't think it fair that I should be a burden for ever on you and Peter." "Well, that's sensible enough. The old man had some sense in him after all, absurd though he was, and vulgar. It _isn't_ fair, of course. I don't mean to say anything disagreeable, or throw all I have done for you in your face, but really, Anna, few mothers would have made the sacrifices I have for you, and as for sisters-in-law--well, I'd just like to see another."