separation. These two innocent children could hide their love as
little as the sun his light. They were always together, their eyes
always fixed on one another, their hands as often as possible
clasped in each other's. All the people in the hotel noticed it, and
were pleased about it, so natural did it seem that this handsome
couple should be united by love. The chambermaid, rosy Bertha, saw
what was going on with her sly peasant's eye, and by way of making
herself agreeable used to whisper to him where he could find the
young lady when she happened to meet him on the staircase. Wilhelm
good-naturedly forgave the girl her obtrusiveness. Only Herr Ellrich
saw nothing. In his foreign newspapers, in the blue smoke from his
cigars, in the clouds of powder from his gun, be found nothing which
could enlighten him as to the two young people's beautiful secret.

Frau Ellrich certainly had more knowledge than that. In spite of her
correspondence and her long afternoon naps, she retained enough
observation to see the condition of things pretty clearly. She
waited for a confession from Loulou, and as this did not come soon
enough for the impatience of her mother's heart, she tried a loving
question. After a warm embrace from the girl, a few tears, a great
many kisses, the mother and daughter understood each other. Wilhelm
had pleased Frau Ellrich very much, and she had no objection to
raise, but she could make no answer on her own responsibility, as
she knew the views of her husband on the marriage of his only child,
and after a few days she made him a cautious communication. Herr
Ellrich did not take it badly, but as a practical man of the world
he wished to give the feelings of the young people opportunity to
bear the trials of separation, and for the present thought a
decision useless. The projected visit to Ostend was hastened by some
ten days. At dinner he made his decision known, adding, "You have