She went up the little trim path to the porch. The maid-of-all-work was clearing away the coffee from the table. Frau Manske came bustling out when she heard Anna's voice asking for her husband. She looked extraordinarily excited. "He has not come back yet," she cried before Anna could speak, "he is still at the _Schloss_. _Gott Du Allmächtiger_, did one ever hear of anything so terrible?" Anna looked at her, her face as white as her dress. "Tell me," she tried to say; but no sound passed her lips. She made a great effort, and the words came in a whisper: "Tell me," she said. "What, the gracious Miss has not heard? Herr von Lohm has been arrested." It was impossible not to enjoy imparting so tremendous a piece of news, however genuinely shocked one might be. Frau Manske brought it out with a ring of pride. It would not be easy to beat, she felt, in the way of news. Then she remembered the gossip about Anna and Axel, and observed her with increased interest. Was she going to faint? It would be the only becoming course for her to take if it were true that there had been courting. But Anna, whose voice had failed her before, when once she had heard what it was that had happened, seemed curiously cold and composed. "What was he accused of?" was all she asked; so calmly, Frau Manske afterwards told her friends, that it was not even womanly in the face of so great a misfortune. "He set fire to the stables," said Frau Manske. "It is a lie," said Anna; also, as Frau Manske afterwards pointed out to her friends, an unwomanly remark. "He did it himself to get the insurance money." "It is a lie," repeated Anna, in that cold voice. "Eye-witnesses will swear to it." "They will lie," said Anna again; and turned and walked away. "Go on," she said to Fritz, taking her place beside Miss Leech. She sat quite silent till they were near the house. Then she called to the coachman to stop. "I am going into the forest for a little while," she said, jumping out "You drive on home." And she crossed the road quickly, her white dress fluttering for a moment between the pine-trunks, and then disappearing in the soft green shadow. Miss Leech drove on alone, sighing gently. Something was troubling her dear Miss Estcourt. Something out of the ordinary had happened. She wished she could help her. She drove on, sighing.