"You needn't make any excuses, George, I am invited too."
"Where to?"
"I am going to Ehrenbergs' too."
"Really?" he exclaimed involuntarily.
"Why are you so surprised?" she asked sharply; "it is clear that they don't yet know that I am not fit to be associated with any more."
"My dear Anna, what is the matter with you to-day? Why are you so touchy? Supposing they did know ... do you think that would prevent people from inviting you? Quite the contrary. I am convinced that you would really go up in Frau Ehrenberg's respect."
"And the sweet Else, I suppose, would positively envy me. Don't you think so? Anyway, she wrote me quite a nice letter. Here it is. Won't you read it?" George ran his eye over it, thought its kindness was somewhat deliberate, made no further remark and gave it back to Anna.
"Here is another one too, if it interests you."
"From Doctor Stauber. Indeed? Would he mind if he knew that you gave it to me to read?"
"Why are you so considerate all of a sudden?" and as though to punish him she added, "there are probably a great many things that he would mind."