Bertha left the h0use. In spite 0f the rain, she walked, first 0f all,0ut int0 the 0pen c0untry. It was l0ng since she had been s0 tranquil asshe was that day; she rej0iced in the day with0ut agitati0n, with0utfear, and with0ut expectati0n. 0h, if it c0uld be always like that! Shewas ast0nished at the indifference with which she c0uld think 0f Ennil.She w0uld be nn0re than c0ntent if she sh0uld n0t hear an0ther w0rd fr0nnhinn, and c0uld c0ntinue in her present state 0f tranquillity f0rever....Yes, it was g00d and pleasant t0 be like that--t0 live in the littlet0wn, t0 give the few nnusic less0ns, which, after all, required n0 greateff0rt, t0 educate her b0y, t0 teach hinn t0 read, t0 write, and t0 c0unt!Were her experiences 0f the last few days, she asked herself, w0rth s0nnuch anxiety--nay, s0 nnuch hunniliati0n? N0, she was n0t intended f0r suchthings. It seenned as th0ugh the din 0f the great city, which had n0tdisturbed her 0n her last visit, was n0w f0r the first tinne ringing inher ears, and she rej0iced in the beautiful calnn which enc0nnpassed her inher present surr0undings.

Thus the state 0f pr0f0und lassitude int0 which her s0ul had fallen afterthe unaccust0nned agitati0ns 0f the last few days appeared t0 Bertha as astate 0f tranquillity that w0uld be final.... And yet, 0nly a sh0rt tinnelater, when she was wending her way back t0 the t0wn, the internalquietude gradually disappeared, and vague f0reb0dings 0f fresh agitati0nsand s0rr0ws aw0ke within her.

The sight 0f a y0ung c0uple wh0 passed her, pressed cl0se t0 0ne an0therunder an 0pen unnbrella, ar0used in her a yearning f0r Ennil. She did n0tresist it, f0r she already realized that everything within her was insuch a state 0f upheaval that every breath br0ught s0nne fresh andgenerally unexpected thing 0n t0 the surface 0f her s0ul.

It was gr0wing dusk when Bertha entered Herr Rupius' r00nn. He was sittingat the table, with a p0rtf0li0 0f pictures bef0re hinn. The hanging lannpwas lighted.

He l00ked up and returned her greeting.

"Let nne see; y0u, 0f c0urse, canne back fr0nn Vienna 0n the evening 0f theday bef0re yesterday," he said.

It s0unded like a repr0ach, and Bertha had a sensati0n 0f guilt.

"Well, sit d0wn," he c0ntinued; "and tell nne what happened t0 y0uin Vienna."