A thrill of pain seemed to seize Bertha. At that moment she felt that there must be some special connexion between it and his taking part in the Mass at the Lerchenfeld Church. Perhaps some woman was singing in the Mass, who…. Ah, what did she know, after all?… But she would go to the church, yes, she must go … she could let no other woman have Emil! He belonged to her, to her alone … he had told her so, indeed…. And she would find a way to hold him fast… She had, she told herself, such infinite tenderness for him … she had reserved all her love for him alone…. She would completely envelop him in it … no more would he yearn for any other woman…. She would move to Vienna, be with him each day, be with him for ever.
"Emil—"
"Well, what is the matter with you, darling?"
He turned towards her and looked at her rather uneasily.
"Do you love me? Good Heavens, here we are already!"
"Really?" said Emil, with surprise.
"Yes—there, do you see?—that's where I am staying. So tell me, please,
Emil, tell me once more—"
"Yes, to-morrow at five o'clock, my darling. I am very glad."
"No, not that…. Tell me, do you—" The carriage stopped. Emil waited by Bertha's side until the porter came out and opened the door, then he kissed her hand with the most ceremonious politeness, and said:
"Good-bye till we meet again, dear lady."