第18部分(第5/7 頁)

manner。　She

thought　him　a　very　wonderful　person。　She　was　shy　of　him；　she

liked　him　to　talk　to　her。　She　felt　a　sense　of　freedom　near

him。

She　never　could　tell　how　she　knew　it；　but　she　did　know　that

he　was　a　knight　of　Malta。　She　could　never　remember　whether　she

had　seen　his　star；　or　cross；　of　his　order　or　not；　but　it　flashed

in　her　mind；　like　a　symbol。　He　at　any　rate　represented　to　the

child　the　real　world；　where　kings　and　lords　and　princes　moved

and　fulfilled　their　shining　lives；　whilst　queens　and　ladies　and

princesses　upheld　the　noble　order。

She　had　recognized　the　Baron　Skrebensky　as　a　real　person；　he

had　had　some　regard　for　her。　But　when　she　did　not　see　him　any

more；　he　faded　and　became　a　memory。　But　as　a　memory　he　was

always　alive　to　her。

Anna　became　a　tall；　awkward　girl。　Her　eyes　were　still　very

dark　and　quick；　but　they　had　grown　careless；　they　had　lost　their

watchful；　hostile　look。　Her　fierce；　spun　hair　turned　brown；　it

grew　heavier　and　was　tied　back。　She　was　sent　to　a　young　ladies'

school　in　Nottingham。

And　at　this　period　she　was　absorbed　in　being　a　young　lady。

She　was　intelligent　enough；　but　not　interested　in　learning。　At

first；　she　thought　all　the　girls　at　school　very　ladylike　and

wonderful；　and　she　wanted　to　be　like　them。　She　came　to　a　speedy

disillusion：　they　galled　and　maddened　her；　they　were　petty　and

mean。　After　the　loose；　generous　atmosphere　of　her　home；　where

little　things　did　not　count；　she　was　always　uneasy　in　the　world；

that　would　snap　and　bite　at　every　trifle。

A　quick　change　came　over　her。　She　mistrusted　herself；　she

mistrusted　the　outer　world。　She　did