"But you must have felt quite lonely," said Frau Ehrenberg.
"You certainly realise solitude more clearly when there's no one in the neighbourhood who shows any desire of talking to you.... But let's talk of more interesting and promising men than I am. How are all the numerous friends of your popular family?"
"Friends!" repeated Else. "I should like first to know what you mean by the word?"
"Well, all the people who say something agreeable to you from whatever motive, and whom you believe in when they say it."
The door of the bedroom opened, Herr Ehrenberg appeared and greeted Nürnberger.
"Are you ready packed?" asked Else.
"Packed and ready," answered Ehrenberg, who had on a grey suit that was far too loose and was biting a fat cigar between his teeth. He turned to Nürnberger to explain.... "I'm off to-day, just as I am, to Corfu ... for the time being; the season is beginning and the Ehrenberg 'at homes' make me feel sick."
"No one asks you," replied Frau Ehrenberg gently, "to honour them with your presence."
"Cute answer, eh," said Ehrenberg, puffing at his cigar. "I don't mind, of course, staying away from your real 'at homes.' But when I'd like to dine quietly at home on a Thursday and there's an attaché sitting in one corner and a hussar in the other, and some one over there is playing his own compositions and some one else on the sofa is being funny, while by the window Frau Oberberger is fixing up an assignation with any one who happens to come along ... well, it really gets on my nerves. One can stand it once, but not a second time."
"Do you think you'll remain away all the winter?" asked Nürnberger.