Herr Rupius glanced at her for a long time.

"I know what is in your mind, although you do not venture to say it. Butyour husband, my dear Frau Bertha, lies deep in the grave, and does notsleep by your side evening after evening."

He looked up with a glance that seemed to ascend to Heaven as a curse.

Time was getting on; Bertha thought of her train.

"When is your wife going to start?"

"Nothing has been said about that yet--but I am keeping you, perhaps?"