n." The delay
annoyed him, it had never entered his mind that he should not find her
at home. He hastily entered resolved to send the maid-servant for her,
for he felt unable to see others to-day, even though they might be his
dearest friends. But when he opened the door of his room, the girl came
toward him with a light.

"Herr Doctor!" she exclaimed, almost dropping the lamp in her surprise.
"Good gracious, to-day! And my mistress--"

"Where's my wife? At the next house, I suppose?"

"Preserve us! Gone away entirely, an hour ago--you must have met her at
the railway station."

"At the station? What are you talking about, Kathrin? Where should she
go--alone--without me--"

"She's gone to Berlin with Herr Feyertag, and she said she didn't know
when she'd come back, but she'd write, and as the Herr Doctor wouldn't
return for a week--"

"Gone? To Berlin?"

"Why yes, to see her father--and she made up her mind very suddenly.
Herr Feyertag said it would be a good opportunity, because he was going
himself this evening, but my mistress would not hear of such a thing at
first, but the other visitor had scarcely gone--"

"Another visitor? Who--don't make me drag the words out of you so--"

"But how should I know who it was? I never saw the lady in my life, she
didn't tell her name, and I could not hear what she said to my
mistress. She was very beautiful, and very elegantly dressed; after
she'd gone the room smelt of violets a long time, and my mistress paced
up and down, looking very pale and talking to herself. And then when I
brought her dinner she didn't touch a mouthful, and I didn't dare to
ask her any questions; she said nothing to me, except that she'd made
up her mind to go to Berlin. So about twilight she went out with a
little satchel, and didn't even allow me to go with her to the station.
When she'd gone, I felt very sad and anxious, though I didn't know why,
and I was just going to bed--but what ails you, Herr Doctor? Shall I
get you a glass of water?"

He had sunk down on the sofa and his eyes were closed as if a stroke of
apoplexy had benumbed his brain.

When, after some time, he opened his eyes again, he saw the
maid-servant, who had no idea what all this could mean, still standing
helplessly in the middle of the room. "What are you doing here,
Kathrin?" he said harshly. "Go to bed, leave me, I want nothing more
to-day. No, no light. I can see well enough. Good night."

The faithful servant gli