e now exclaimed, suddenly quickening his pace. "There,
child, now you see what you've done with your promised surprise. I
wanted to be generous, too, and as I could think of nothing else,
decided that the best surprise would be myself. Good Evening, dearest!"
and he took both hands, which she extended to him through the window,
and pressed them in his cold trembling fingers; "I thank God for being
here, where I belong! I have the honor of presenting to you an old
acquaintance, Herr Heinrich Mohr, the father of his son, of whom I've
already written to you. I couldn't induce him to satisfy himself with
an improvised couch on the green sofa. He thinks he can find a bed at
the Star, on which he can more comfortably stretch his six feet of
length. Is all well, dearest? but come, open the door for us. We must
at least have a glass of wine together--"

He had released her hands, but she did not move from the window. These
shallow jesting words had fallen on her soul like a frost and had
paralysed her. She did not speak; she addressed no word of welcome to
the old friend, asked no question as to how her beloved husband had
fared. This, then, was the meeting for which she had waited with such
ardent longing.

"Don't be afraid, Frau Leah, that I shall make use of this thoughtless
invitation and trouble you this, evening," said Mohr laughing. "Old
friends are the most inconvenient articles in the world, when married
people meet after a separation. To-morrow I'll take the liberty of
knocking at your door to give you my wife's message and a photograph of
the little Mohr, but now I shall wish you a good night's rest. No, my
dear fellow, I need no guide. I looked carefully at your 'Star' as we
passed by, and shall find it again in spite of my small share of
astronomical knowledge. Good night, Frau Doctorin."

He raised his hat, pressed Edwin's hand, and walked back toward the
main street.

Edwin still stood under the window.

"It seems like a dream to be at home again," said he. "This whole day,
while we were marching like two lunatics, merely to get here, I have
been constantly thinking of our old home, and how delightful it would
be to clasp your hand again, and now I'm standing here, and the old
stones are still firm, and I--but you're so silent; the surprise was
too sudden; well, I hope yours--"

"I'll open the door for you," she said, making a mighty effort to
repress her tears. "Oh! Edwin, is it really you?"

She left t