Her eye fell on the telegram as the picnic party came crowding in.
"Bill coming home?" inquired somebody.
"I'm afraid he is," she said, opening it.
She read it, and could not prevent a change of expression. There was a burst of laughter. The young men declared they would never marry. The young women, prone at all times to pity other women's husbands, criticised Trudi's pale face, and secretly pitied Bill. She lit a cigarette, flung herself into a chair, and became very cheerful. She had never been so amusing. She kept them in a state of uproarious mirth till the small hours. The richest lieutenant, who had found her distinctly a bore during the drive home, went away feeling quite affectionate. When they had all gone, she dropped on to her bed, and cried, and cried.
It was in the papers next morning, and at breakfast Trudi and her family were in every mouth. Bibi came running round, genuinely distressed. She had not been invited to the picnic, but she forgot that in her sympathy. "I wanted to catch you before you start," she said, vigorously embracing her poor friend.
"Where should I start for?" asked Trudi, offering a cold cheek to Bibi's kisses.
"Are you not going to Herr von Lohm?" exclaimed Bibi, open-mouthed.
"What, when he tries to cheat insurance companies?"
"But he never, never set fire to those buildings himself."
"Didn't he, though?" Trudi turned her head, and looked straight into Bibi's eyes. "I know him better than you do," she said slowly.