hand cordially to the new arrival.

Hannah Gropphusen greeted the festive circle with a bright smile, and
replied: "Do forgive me, Colonel von Falkenhein. The lights and the
festivity in your arbour were too inviting."

She raised her glass, and drank to Klaere Guentz: "To your happiness,
dear Frau Klaere, from the bottom of my heart."

"I have been delayed at Frau von Stuckardt's," she then said; "or,
rather, Frau von Stuckardt would not let me leave."

"Stuckardt told me," interrupted the colonel, "that his wife was not
well."

"Yes, she has got the old pain in her face back again, which no doctor
can relieve, and that was why I had to stay so long. I had to keep my
hands on her cheeks. She says I have soothing hands and can do her
good."

Reimers looked across at her. She was sitting a little in the shadow,
so that her white straw hat and light blouse stood out distinctly. On
her bosom sparkled a small diamond. Only the tip of her foot was
visible in the lamplight, a beautiful, narrow, elegantly-shod foot,
which was swinging rapidly backwards and forwards.

To avoid catching her eye, Reimers turned to Marie Falkenhein, his
neighbour. The _Maibowle_ had got into his head a little. He chatted
away cheerfully, the young girl listening with flushed cheeks and
radiant eyes, and answering laughingly from time to time. They neither
of them noticed that meanwhile Frau von Gropphusen had emptied her
glass and was preparing to go.

"Many thanks," she said. "I was nearly fainting. The _Maibowle_ has
done me good. But it's getting late; I must go home."

"Of course they are expecting you at home?" asked Falkenhein.

Hannah Gropphusen laughed rather bitterly.

"Expecting me?" she replied. "Who? Oh no, I don't suppose my husband is
at home. But pray, colonel, don't punish him for that!"

This was rather painful. However, Frau von Gropphusen afterwards said
good-bye to them so simply and naturally that no one thought anything
more about it.

The colonel accompanied her to the gate, and the four in the arbour
went over to the balustrade. Guentz had put his arm tenderly round Frau
Klaere, and Reimers was standing beside Marie Falkenhein. They watched
Hannah Gropphusen mount her bicycle and ride slowly away. She turned
round in the saddle, waved her right hand, and shouted out a laughing
"Good-night."

A little further along she looked back, and the white-gloved hand waved
again, but they could no longer distinguish