In the door that led to the rear hall she met him. Her demeanour had
its accustomed calm, her eyes were clear and dry.

"My poor, dear darling!" he cried and wanted to take her in his arms.

A strange, repelling glance met him and interrupted his beautiful
emotion. Something hardened in him and he felt a new inclination
to sarcasm.

"Forgive me for leaving you," she said, "one must have patience with
the folly of my sex. You know that well."

And she preceded him to his old place.

Screaming with pleasure Joko flew forward to meet her, and Niebeldingk
remained standing to take his leave.

She did not hold him back.

Outside it occurred to him that he hadn't told her the anecdote of
Fritz and the Indian lilies.

"It's a pity," he thought, "it might have cheered her." ...




Chapter VIII