Anna was the first to speak.

"So then it is agreed that we are to meet at the railway station in timefor the morning train--isn't it? And I will arrange matters so that wereturn home by the seven o'clock train in the evening. In eight hours,you see, it is possible to get through a good deal."

"Certainly," exclaimed Bertha; "provided, of course, that you are notinconveniencing yourself on my account in the slightest degree."

Anna interrupted her, almost angrily.

"I have already told you how glad I am that you will be travellingwith me, the more so as there is not a woman in the town so congenialto me as you."

"Yes," exclaimed Herr Rupius, "I can corroborate that. You know, of course,that my wife is on visiting terms with hardly anybody here--and as it hasbeen such a long time since you came to see us I occasionally was beginning to fearthat she was going to lose you as well."