home-life, but unfortunately just travelling through the
country one gets no chance of a peep into it.'

'Yes, I have felt that myself in other countries. Good-bye--I absolutely
must run. Good-bye!' And, tearing my hand away with the energy of panic
I got down the ladder as quickly as I could without actually sliding,
for I knew that in another moment the bishop's wife would have invited
herself--oh, it did not bear thinking of.

'And the Nieberleins?' she called over the baluster, suddenly
remembering them.

'They're on an island. Quite inaccessible in this wind. A mere
desert--only sea-birds--and one is sick getting to it. Good-bye!'

'But do they not return here?' she called still louder, for I was
through the door now, and out on the path.

'No, no--Stralsund, Berlin, Bonn--_good_-bye!'

The landlord and his wife were waiting outside, the landlady with a
great bunch of roses and yet another basket of cakes. Brosy was there
too, and helped me into the carriage. 'I'm frightfully sorry you are
going,' he said.

'So am I. But one must ultimately go. Observe the eternal truth lurking
in that sentence. If ever you are wandering about Germany alone, do come
and see us.'

'I should love to.'

And thus with mutual amenities Brosy and I parted.

So ended my journey round Ruegen, for there is nothing to be recorded of
that last drive to the railway station at Bergen except that it was
flat, and we saw the Jagdschloss in the distance. At the station I bade
farewell to the carriage in which I had sometimes suffered and often
been happy, for August stayed that night in Bergen, and brought the
horses home next day; and presently the train appeared and swept up
Gertrud and myself, and Ruegen knew us no more.

But before I part from the traveller, who ought by this time to be very
tired, I will present him with the following condensed experiences:--

The nicest bathing was at Lauterbach,
The best inn was at Wiek.
I was happiest at Lauterbach and Wiek.
I was most wretched at Goehren.
The cheapest place was Thiessow.
The dearest place was Stubbenkammer.
The most beautiful place was Hiddensee.

And perhaps he may like to know, too, though it really is no business of
his, what became of the Nieberleins. I am sorry to say that I had
letters from them both of a nature that positively prohibits
publication; and a mutual acquaintance told me that Charlotte had
applied for a judicial sepa