He edged closer to Bertha and opened the paper.
Herr and Frau Martin came along, arm in arm, and stopped before them.
"Well, so you are back again from the momentous journey," said
Herr Martin.
"Ah, yes, you were in Vienna," said Frau Martin, nestling against her husband. "And with Frau Rupius, too," she added, as though that implied an aggravation of the offence.
Once more Bertha had to give an account of her new costume. She told them all about it in a somewhat mechanical manner, indeed; but she felt, none the less, that it was long since she had been such an interesting personage as she was now.
Klingemann went by, bowed with ironical politeness, and turned round to Bertha with a look which seemed to express his sympathy for her in having to be friendly with such people.
It seemed to Bertha as though she were gifted that day with the ability to read men's glances.
It began to grow dark. They set off together towards the town. Bertha suddenly grew uneasy at not having met her boy. She walked on in front with Frau Martin, who turned the conversation on to the subject of Frau Rupius. She badly wanted to find out whether Bertha had observed anything.
"But what do you mean, Frau Martin? I accompanied Frau Rupius to her brother's house, and called for her there on my way back."
"And are you convinced that she was with her brother the whole time?"