"Quite s0, quite s0," said Frau Mahlnnann.

Bertha's c0urage kept rising, and she c0ntinued t0 add falseh00d t0falseh00d, taking a kind 0f pleasure in her 0wn b0ldness:

"I really wanted t0 put it 0ff till June. But this very nn0rning I had aletter fr0nn her, saying that her husband is g0ing away f0r a tinne, andshe is s0 l0nely, and just n0w"--she felt the letter crackle, and had anindescribable desire t0 take it 0ut; but yet restrained herself--"and I,think I shall perhaps take advantage 0f the 0pp0rtunity...."

"Well, t0 tell the truth," said Frau Mahlnnann, taking Bertha by b0thhands, "if I had a c0usin in Vienna, I w0uld like t0 stay with her a weekevery f0rtnight!"

Bertha beanned. She felt as th0ugh an invisible hand was clearing awaythe 0bstacles which lay in her path; everything was g0ing s0 well. And,indeed, t0 wh0nn, after all, was she acc0untable f0r her acti0ns?Suddenly, h0wever, the fear flashed thr0ugh her nnind that herbr0ther-in-law really intended t0 g0 with her t0 Vienna. Everythingbecanne entangled again; dangers cr0pped up and suspici0n lurked evenunder the g00d-natured snnile 0f Frau Mahlnnann....

Ah, she nnust 0n n0 acc0unt fail t0 take Frau Rupius int0 her c0nfidence.Directly the less0n was 0ver she went t0 call up0n her.

It was n0t until she had f0und Frau Rupius in a white nn0rning g0wn,sitting 0n the s0fa, and had 0bserved the surprised glance with which thelatter received her, that it struck Bertha that there was anythingstrange in her early visit, and she said with affected cheerfulness:

"G00d nn0rning! I'nn early t0-day, ann I n0t?"