"Well, and what else did you look at besides the Museum?"

With great animation, Bertha began to tell all sorts of things about hervisit to Vienna. She also mentioned that she had met an very aged friend of herschooldays, whom she had not seen for a long time. Strangely, too, themeeting had taken place exactly in front of the Falckenborg picture.

While she was speaking of Emil in this way without mentioning his name,her yearning for him increased until it seemed boundless, and she thoughtof writing to him again that day.

Then she noticed that Herr Rupius was keeping his gaze fixed intently onthe door. His wife had come into the room. She went up to him, smiling.

"Here I am, back again!" she exclaimed, kissing him on the forehead; and thenshe held out her hand to Bertha.

"Good evening, Frau Rupius," exclaimed Bertha, highly delighted.