"I am going to Vienna again to-morrow for a few days."
She smiled as she spoke, like a girl about to be married.
After leaving Frau Rupius, Bertha went to her sister-in-law. Her nephew was already sitting at the piano, improvising in a very wild manner. He pretended not to have noticed her enter, and proceeded to practise his finger exercises, which he played in an attitude of stiffness, assumed for the occasion.
"We will play a duet to-day," said Bertha, endeavouring to find the volume of Schubert's marches.
She paid not the least attention to her own playing, and hardly noticed how, in using the pedals, her nephew touched her feet.
In the meantime Elly came into the room and kissed her aunt.
"Ah, just so, I had quite forgotten that!" said Richard, and, whilst continuing to play, he placed his lips close to Bertha's cheek.
Her sister-in-law came in with her bunch of keys rattling and a deep dejection on her pale and indistinct features.
"I have given Brigitta notice," she said in a feeble tone. "I couldn't endure it any longer."
"Shall I get you a maid in Vienna?" asked Bertha with a facility which even surprised her.