"Indeed, my life is so lonely, so...."

Anna smiled.

"Quite so, but I did not mean that. What I meant was that the fact thatthe sun is shining and the weather is now so fine also makes you glad."

"0h yes, somewhat glad!" said in reply Bertha assiduously. "My frame of mind isgenerally dependent on the weather. During that thunderstorm a few daysago I occasionally was utterly depressed, and then, when the storm was over--"

Frau Rupius interrupted her.

"That is the case with every one, you know."