He would have given much to know why she wanted the papers, for surely it was unusual for women to read newspapers? When there was a murder, or anything of that sort, his wife liked to see them, but not at other times. "Is the gracious Miss interested in politics?" he inquired, as he put several together.
"No, not particularly," said Anna; "at least, not yet in German politics. I must live here a little while first."
"In—in literature, perhaps?"
"No, not particularly. I know so little about German books."
"There are some well-written articles occasionally on the modes in ladies' dresses."
"Really?"
"My wife tells me she often gets hints from them as to what is being worn. Ladies, we know," he added with a superior smile, checked, however, on his remembering that he was pained, "are interested in these matters."
"Yes, they are," agreed Anna, smiling, and holding out her hand for the papers.
"Ah, then, it is that that the gracious Miss wishes to read?" he said quickly.
"No, not particularly," said Anna, who began to see that he too suffered from the prevailing inquisitiveness. Besides, she was too much afraid of his having sisters, or of his wife's having sisters, eager to come and be a blessing to her, to tell him about her advertisement.