do, with some little piece of sewing. She is making artificial roses
with narrow pink ribbon; a delightful kind of work.

* * * * *




DEAR PROFESSOR ROTHE,

Your letter was such a shock to me that I could not answer it
immediately, as I should have wished to do. For that reason I sent you
the brief telegram in reply, the words of which, I am sorry to say, I
must now repeat: "I know nothing about the matter." Lillie has never
spoken a word to me, or made the least allusion in my presence, which
could cause me to suspect such a thing. I think I can truly say that I
never heard her pronounce the name of Director Schlegel.

My first idea was that my cousin had gone out of her mind, and I was
astonished that you--being a medical man--should not have come to the
same conclusion. But on mature consideration (I have thought of nothing
but Lillie for the last two days) I have changed my opinion. I think I
am beginning to understand what has happened, but I beg you to remember
that I alone am responsible for what I am going to say. I am only
dealing with suppositions, nothing more.

Lillie has not broken her marriage vows. Any suspicion of betrayal is
impossible, having regard to her upright and loyal nature. If to you,
and to everybody else, she appeared to be perfectly happy in her married
life, it was because she really was so. I implore you to believe this.