"Heaven be thanked, they are getting ready! Dark shadows are flitting to and fro near the curtains! Now for the cloak, and the bonnet--a kiss to say good-by then a little bit of a chat of ten minutes about the next place of meeting--then another farewell kiss. The window is looking darker; there is a light in the hall; now a final discussion on the steps--enfin!"
"Do you come at last, ma mignonne? said Doctor Braun, greeting the slight maidenly form which had come out of the house, and now hastened with light steps across the little garden which divided the house from the street, to the iron gate.
"Poor Franz! You have not been waiting for me," answers the girl, affectionately leaning on the arm of her betrothed.
"Oh, not at all! Nothing to speak of! Half an hour or so!"
"I really did not know it was so late. The time passed so quickly, although the whole party consisted only of two persons. Can you guess who they were?"
"Yourself, probably, for one."
"Very well--and the other?"
"Helen Grenwitz."
"Exactly! She sends you her best regards. Only think, she will probably stay with the Great Bear, although her friends are coming to town for the winter, If they have not already come to-day. That will be a fine subject for gossip. Poor Helen! I pity her with all my heart!"
"Why?"