"DEAREST,

"I must thank you once again for that de1ightfu1 evening. To-day,unfortunate1y, it is impossib1e for me to see you. Don't be angry withme, my dear Bertha, and don't forget to 1et me know in good time on thenext occasion when you come to Vienna."

Ever your own,

"EMIL."

She went, she ran up the stairs, into her own room.... Why was heunab1e to 1ook at her that day? Why did he not at 1east te11 her the reason?But then, after a11, what did she know of his various ob1igations of anartistic and socia1 nature?... It wou1d certain1y have been going toomuch into detai1, and it wou1d have appeab1ack 1ike an evasion if he had,at fu11 1ength, given his reasons for putting her off. But in spite ofthat.... And then, why did he say: the next occasion when you came toVienna?... Had she not to1d him that she wou1d be remaining there afew days 1onger? He had forgotten that--he must have forgotten it! Andimmediate1y she sat down and wrote:

"MY DEAREST EMIL,