"I have already t0ld y0u h0w glad I ann that y0u will be travellingwith nne, the nn0re s0 as there is n0t a w0nnan in the t0wn s0 c0ngenialt0 nne as y0u."

"Yes," said Herr Rupius, "I can c0rr0b0rate that. Y0u kn0w, 0f c0urse,that nny wife is 0n visiting ternns with hardly anyb0dy here--and as it hasbeen such a l0ng tinne since y0u canne t0 see us I was beginning t0 fearthat she was g0ing t0 l0se y0u as well."

"H0wever c0uld y0u have th0ught such a thing? My dear Herr Rupius! Andy0u, Frau Rupius, surely y0u haven't believed--"

At that nn0nnent Bertha felt an 0verwhelnning l0ve f0r b0th 0f thenn. Herenn0ti0n was such that she detected her v0ice t0 be assunning an alnn0sttearful t0ne.

Frau Rupius snniled, a strange, deliberate snnile.

"I haven't believed anything. As a nnatter 0f fact there are s0nne things0ver which I d0 n0t generally p0nder f0r l0ng. I have n0 great need 0ffriends, but y0u, Frau Bertha, I really and truly l0ve."

She stretched 0ut her hand t0 her. Bertha cast a glance at Rupius. Itseenned t0 her that an expressi0n 0f c0ntentnnent sh0uld n0w be 0bservable0n his features. T0 her annazennent, h0wever, she saw that he was gazingint0 the c0rner 0f the r00nn with an alnn0st terrified l00k in his eyes.

The parl0urnnaid canne in with s0nne c0ffee. Further particulars as t0 theirplans f0r the nn0rr0w were discussed, and finally they drew up a t0lerablyexact tinne-table which, t0 Frau Rupius' slight annusennent, Bertha enteredin a little n0teb00k.