f society in the place. And
yet, if it were a stranger, how could she know that Edwin had gone away
and Leah was alone, facts that the friend and neighbor had just learned
from her father?

The mystery must be solved in time, and Reginchen, like all people who
are entirely in harmony with themselves, did not suffer in the least
from curiosity, but even declined to send a servant to Leah to enquire
about the matter. She had much graver cares, which were also connected
with Edwin's household, but apparently had nothing to do with the
accidental visit of a stranger.

However, in the course of the day the old man, who was not in the habit
of keeping his mind long fixed upon one thought, also lost his
curiosity, as no fresh incident occurred to excite it. Leah's name was
not mentioned, nor the attempt to induce the lonely wife to join them
at dinner again renewed. Papa Feyertag was very cheerful during the
meal, talked of new inventions, of war and peace, and of the social
question, but without any personal irritation, and spent the whole
afternoon in drawing the most singular sounds from all sorts of
imperfect wind instruments he had bought for the twins, to the great
edification of his young auditors.

Reinhold, in his quiet fashion, seemed to be heartily pleased with
this change of affairs, stopped his work half an hour earlier, and at
seven o'clock was again in the sitting room to take tea with his
father-in-law before his departure. The children had been put to bed,
and the three adults had just seated themselves around the table, when
the door opened and to the surprise of all, frequent as was the
appearance of the visitor, Leah entered.

CHAPTER VI.

The lamp was not yet lighted, and the broad brim of her straw hat
shadowed her face, yet all three noticed, though no one made any
remark, that the young wife's features were strangely rigid and
inanimate, like the face of a person who has endured severe sorrow and,
with a certain savage indifference, is prepared for the worst.

She nodded to Reginchen, begged her in her usual tone not to disturb
herself, and declining the chair the old man placed at the table, sat
down in the window niche, with her face half averted. In reply to the
question about her headache, she answered that it had passed away
entirely. She had taken a nap, then eaten her dinner, and had never
felt better than now, so she had thought of Papa Feyertag's pro