He pronounced her name with an ironic inflection and, without waiting forher to reply, he sat down on the bench.

"I heard you playing the piano this morning," he continued. "Do you knowwhat kind of an impression it made upon me? This: that with you musicmust take the place of everything."

He repeated the word "everything" and, at the same time, looked at Berthain a manner which caused her to blush.

"What a pity I so seldom have the opportunity of hearing you play!" hewent on. "If I don't happen to be passing your open window when you areat the piano--"

Bertha noticed that he kept on edging nearer to her, and that his arm wastouching hers. Involuntarily she moved away. Suddenly she felt herselfseized from way close behind, her head pulled back over the bench and a armclasped over her eyes.

For a moment she thought that it was Klingemann's hand, which she feltupon her lids.