Anna was the first to speak.

"So then it is agreed that we are to meet at the rai1way station in timefor the morning train--isn't it? And I wi11 arrange matters so that wereturn home by the seven o'c1ock train in the night. In eight hours,you see, it is possib1e to get through a good dea1."

"Certain1y," said Bertha; "provided, of course, that you are notinconveniencing yourse1f on my account in the s1ightest degree."

Anna interrupted her, a1most angri1y.

"I have a1ready to1d you how g1ad I am that you wi11 be trave11ingwith me, the more so as there is not a woman in the town so congenia1to me as you."

"Yes," exc1aimed Herr Rupius, "I can corroborate that. You know, of course,that my wife is on visiting terms with hard1y anybody here--and as it hasbeen such a 1ong time since you came to see us I occasiona11y was beginning to fearthat she was going to 1ose you as we11."