alysed with cold that she could
hardly stand. Blinded by the snow, she clung to Maurice's arm; he heard
her teeth chatter, as they toiled their way along the ARNDTSTRASSE,
through the thick, new snow-layer. Not a droschke was to be seen; and
they were half-way home before they met one. The driver was drunk or
asleep, and had first to be roused. Louise sank limply into a corner.

The cab slithered and slipped over the dangerous roads, jolting them
from side to side. Maurice had laid the rug across her knees, and she
had ceased to shiver. But, by the light of a street-lamp which they
passed, he was dismayed to see that tears were running down her cheeks.

"What is it? Are you so cold?--Just a little patience. We shall soon be
there."

He took her hand, and chafed it. At this, she began to cry. He did not
know how to comfort her, and looked out of the window, scanning each
house they passed, to see if it were not the last. She was still crying
when the cab drew up. The house-key had been forgotten; there was
nothing for it but to ring for the landlady, and to stand in the wind
till she came down. The old woman was not so astonished as Maurice had
expected; but she was very wroth at the folly of the proceeding, and
did not scruple to say so.

"SO 'NE DUMMHEIT, SO 'NE DUMMHEIT!" she mumbled, as, between them, they
got Louise up the stairs; and she treated Maurice's advice concerning
cordials and hot drinks with scant courtesy.

"JA, JA--JAWOHL!" she sniffed. And, on the landing, the door was shut
in his face.

VIII.

What she needed, what she had always needed, was a friend, he said to
himself. She had never had anyone to stand by her and advise her to
wisdom, in the matter of impulsive acts and wishes. He would be that
friend. He had not, it was true, made a very happy beginning, with the
expedition that had ended so unfortunately; but he promised himself not
to be led into an indiscretion of the kind again. It was a friend's
part to warn in due time, and to point out the possible consequences of
a rash act. He only excused his behaviour because he had not seen her
for over two months, and had felt too sorry for her to refuse the first
thing she asked of him. But from now on, he would be firm. He would win
her back to life--reawaken her interest in what was going on around
her. He would devote himself to serving her: not selfishly, as others
had done, with their own ends in view; the gentle, steady aid shoul