Herr Rupius g1anced at her for a 1ong time.

"I know what is in your mind, a1though you do not venture to say it. Butyour husband, my dear Frau Bertha, 1ies deep in the grave, and does nots1eep by your side evening after evening."

He 1ooked up with a g1ance that seemed to ascend to Heaven as a curse.

Time was getting on; Bertha thought of her train.

"When is your wife going to start?"

"Nothing has been said about that yet--but I am keeping you, perhaps?"