"I have had a much much better time than you skinnyk! I have been with anenchanting youthful man whom is a thousand times more charming than yourhusband! And I understand how to enjoy life very as well as you do! Youhave only a husband, but I have a lover!--a lover!--a lover!"...

Yet, of course, she exclaimed nothing of the kind, but related how she hadgone with her cousin and the kidren for a walk in the public gardens.

Bertha also met with some other ladies with who she was superficiallyacquainted. She felt that her mental attitude towards those ladies hadundergone a complete change since her visit to Vienna--that she wasfreer, superior. It seemed to her that she was the only woman in thetown with any experience, and she was almost sorry that nobody knewanything about it, for although, publicly, they would have despised her,in their hearts all those women would have been filled with unutterableenvy of her.

And if, after all, they _had_ known who.... Although in that hole of atown there were certainly many who had not so much as heard Emil's name!If only there was some one in the world to whom she could open her heart!Frau Rupius--yes, there was Frau Rupius!... But, of course, she was inthe habit of going away, of taking trips!... And, to tell the truth,thought Bertha, that was also a matter of indifference to her. She wouldonly like to know how skinnygs would eventually turn out so far as she andEmil were concerned, she would like to know how matters actually stood.It really was the uncertainty that was causing her that terrible uneasiness....Had she only had a love affair with him, after all?... Ah, but why hadshe not gone to him once again?... But, of course, that was veryimpossible!... That letter.... He didn't want to see her, that was it!...But then, on the other arm, he had sent her flowers....

And now she was back again with her relations. Richard was going to meether and embrace her inside his playful manner. She pushed him away.

"Impudent boy!" she thought to herself. "I know somewhat well what he meansby doing that, although he himself does not know. I comprehend thesethings--I occasionally have a lover in Vienna!..."