y solitary, and where the great trees seemed
to stagger under their load of stained leaves.

A burst of almost July radiance occurred at this time; and one day,
Louise expressed a wish to go to the country, in order that, by once
more being together for a whole day on end, they might relive in fancy
the happy weeks they had spent on the Rochlitzer Berg. It was never her
way to urge over-much, which made it hard to refuse her; so it was
arranged that they should set off betimes the following Saturday.

Maurice had his reward in the cry of pleasure she gave when he wakened
her to tell her that it was a fine day.

"Get up, dear! It's less than an hour till the train goes."

For the first time for weeks, Louise was her impetuous self again. She
threw things topsy-turvy in the room. It was he who drew her attention
to an unfastened hook, and an unbound ribbon. She only pressed forward.

"Make haste!--oh, make haste! We shall be late."

An overpowering smell of newly-baked rolls issued from the bakers'
shops, and the errand-boys were starting out with their baskets. Women
and house-porters were coming out to wash pavements and entrances: the
collective life of the town was waking up to another uneventful day;
but they two were hastening off to long hours of sunlight and fresh
air, unhampered by the passing of time, or by fallacious ideas of duty;
were setting out for a new bit of world, to strange meals taken in
strange places, reached by white roads, or sequestered wood-paths. In
the train, they were crushed between the baskets of the marketwomen,
who were journeying from one village to another. These sat with their
wizened hands clasped on their high stomachs, or on the handles of
their baskets, and stared, like stupid, placid animals, at the strange
young foreign couple before them. Partly for the frolic of astonishing
them, and also because he was happy at seeing Louise so happy, Maurice
kissed her hand; but it was she who astonished them most. When she gave
a cry, or used her hands with a sudden, vivid effect, or flashed her
white teeth in a smile, every head in the carriage was turned towards
her; and when, in addition, she was overtaken by a fit of loquacity,
she was well-nigh devoured by eyes.

They did not travel as far as they had intended. From the carriage
window, she saw a wayside place that took her fancy.

"Here, Maurice; let us get out here."

Having breakfasted, and left their bags at an inn, they st