admired. It was just the same with my dear husband. He
was a tall, beautiful man, and sometimes in the evening he would come
down into the kitchen and say: 'Wife, I would like to be stupid for two
minutes.' Nothing rested him so much then as for me to stroke his head."

The Herr Rat's bald pate glistening in the sunlight seemed symbolical of
the sad absence of a wife.

I began to wonder as to the nature of these quiet little after-supper
talks. How could one play Delilah to so shorn a Samson?

"Herr Hoffmann from Berlin arrived yesterday," said the Herr Rat.

"That young man I refuse to converse with. He told me last year that
he had stayed in France in an hotel where they did not have serviettes;
what a place it must have been! In Austria even the cabmen have
serviettes. Also I have heard that he discussed 'free love' with Bertha
as she was sweeping his room. I am not accustomed to such company. I had
suspected him for a long time."

"Young blood," answered the Herr Rat genially. "I have had several
disputes with him--you have heard them--is it not so?" turning to me.

"A great many," I said, smiling.

"Doubtless you too consider me behind the times. I make no secret of my
age; I am sixty-nine; but you must have surely observed how impossible
it was for him to speak at all when I raised my voice."

I replied with the utmost conviction, and, catching Frau Fischer's
eye, suddenly realised I had better go back to the house and write some
letters.

It was dark and cool in my room. A chestnut tree pushed green boughs
against the window. I looked down at the horsehair sofa so openly
flouting the idea of curling up as immoral, pulled the red pillow on to
the floor and lay down. And barely had I got comfortable when the door
opened and Frau Fischer entered.

"The Herr Rat had a bathing appointment," she said, shutting the door
after her. "May I come in? Pray do not move. You look like a little
Persian kitten. Now, tell me something really interesting about your
life. When I meet new people I squeeze them dry like a sponge. To begin
with--you are married."

I admit the fact.

"Then, dear child, where is your husband?"

I said he was a sea-captain on a long and perilous voyage.

"What a position to leave you in--so young and so unprotected."

She sat down on the sofa and shook her finger at me playfully.

"Admit, now, that you keep your journeys secret from him. For what
man would think of allowing a woman wit