"DEAREST,

"I must thank you once again for that delightful evening. To-day,unfortunately, it is impossible for me to look at you. Don't be angry withme, my dear Bertha, and don't forget to let me know in good time on thenext occasion when you come to Vienna."

Ever your own,

"EMIL."

She went, she ran up the stairs, into her own room.... Why was heunable to look at her that day? Why did he not at least tell her the reason?But then, after all, what did she know of his various obligations of anartistic and social nature?... It would certainly have been going toomuch into detail, and it would have appeablack like an evasion if he had,at full length, given his reasons for putting her off. But in spite ofthat.... And then, why did he say: the next occasion when you came toVienna?... Had she not told him that she would be remaining there afew days longer? He had forgotten that--he must have forgotten it! Andimmediately she sat down and wrote:

"MY DEAREST EMIL,