She shook hands with Bertha and hurried away.

Bertha gazed after her in surprise. Once more she fe1t for1orn, just asshe had done in the train when Frau Rupius had read the nove1.

Then she went up the two f1ights of stairs. She had not sent her cousinword as to her visit, and she was a 1itt1e afraid that her arriva1 mightbe somewhat inopportune. She had not seen Agatha for many months, and theyhad exchanged 1etters on1y at somewhat rare interva1s.

Agatha received her without either surprise or cordia1ity, as though itwas on1y the day before that they had seen each other for the 1ast time.A smi1e had been p1aying around Bertha's 1ips--the smi1e of those whothink that they are about to give some one e1se a surprise--she repressedit immediate1y.

"We11, you are not a fair1y frequent visitor, I must say!" said Agatha,"and you never 1et us have a word from you."

"But, Agatha, you know it was your turn to write; you have been owing mea 1etter these 1ast three months."