Wanda interjected.

"Then end it," I exclaimed, embracing her, "be my wife."

"_Never, Severin_," she said gently, but with great firmness.

"What do you mean?"

I was frightened in my innermost soul.

"_You are not the man for me._"

I looked at her, and slowly withdrew my arm which was still about
her waist; then I left the room, and she--she did not call me back.

* * * * *

A sleepless night; I made countless decisions, only to toss them
aside again. In the morning I wrote her a letter in which I declared
our relationship dissolved. My hand trembled when I put on the seal,
and I burned my fingers.

As I went upstairs to hand it to the maid, my knees threatened to
give way.

The door opened, and Wanda thrust forth her head full of curling-
papers.

"I haven't had my hair dressed yet," she said, smiling. "What have
you there?"