nding--and then they
must be sought for very thoroughly."

"Very good. I will go."

Reimers went through the shooting-practice (in which, by-the-by, the
"flighty" Lieutenant Weissenhagen seemed to give a very good account of
himself), buried in a deep reverie. At every shot he started in his
saddle, and when the battery took up a change of position he entirely
forgot to ride into his place. But the good brown mare moved correctly
of herself. Her rider patted her neck in praise, and drew himself up
erect. The joy which had at first stupefied him made him now feel glad
and proud. Happiness smiled upon him once more, before the consummation
of his evil fortune--he would see Hannah Gropphusen again.

It was noon when he arrived in the garrison town. All the good citizens
were at their midday meal. The streets were deserted, and the little
colony of villas that formed the officers' quarters showed no sign of
living inhabitants.

The Gropphusens' house, with its closed shutters and lowered blinds,
looked half asleep; but Hannah's windows were as usual draped in their
pale pink curtains. Reimers went through the garden and into the porch.
He hesitated a moment and listened; not a sound was to be heard.

Then he rang. The electric bell echoed sharply in the deep stillness;
but everything remained quiet. He could only hear the beating of his
pulses.

He rang for the second time, but silence still reigned. Had the unhappy
wife returned to her parents? Was the household broken up?

Then a door banged within the house, and light steps approached. The
chain was taken down and the key turned in the lock.

Hannah Gropphusen stood on the threshold, a weary expression on her
pale face; she was clad in a loose flowing gown of thin white silk. Her
shoulders scarcely seemed fit to bear the weight of anything heavier
than this light airy texture. Her small head was bowed as though unable
to support the burden of her hair.

Her eyes expressed the astonished query: "How come you here?" And she
stepped back hesitatingly.

"I have come on business," stammered Reimers.

Hannah opened the door and signed to him to enter. Her noiseless steps
preceded him as she led him into her own little sitting-room.

She seated herself on the edge of the sofa and pointed to a chair.

"Won't you sit down?" she said gently. But Reimers remained standing,
gazing down upon the woman he loved. At last he was near her; he could
see her and hear her