ak, Robert."

Robert did speak. He spoke with quiet friendliness. He was certainly
very grateful to her for her feelings. He returned them with all his
heart, as she knew. But why change a relation in which both had been so
comfortable for a generation. It was a delightful emotion to know that,
while outwardly free, they were secretly united by warm friendship. This
bond would not oppress. The fetters of a regular Philistine marriage
would probably burden them, and, after all, it would not be morally so
beautiful and so strong as a daily desired and renewed companionship.
He, for his part, at any rate, would desire nothing better than the
endless continuance of their present relations.

Else was not satisfied. She continued to try to persuade and convince
him. She became excited, Robert remained calm. She entreated, he grew
morose and taciturn. Scarcely waiting for the coffee, which he swallowed
as swiftly as the warmth of the fragrant beverage permitted, he left Else
immediately on some slight pretext.

Far from softening him, Else's eager words had made him indignant, almost
incensed. This was certainly an attempt to take him by surprise. For a
moment the suspicion even awoke that Thiel was in league with Frau von
der Lehde, his warning, her demand were arranged, a preconcerted attack
had been executed on both sides. True, he did not dwell long upon this
thought, whose improbability he himself soon perceived, but he mentally
repeated Frau von der Lehde's words again and again. No other woman saw
him with eyes like hers! How did she know that? No woman on earth loved
him as she did? What if he should show her the contrary? He must no
longer love, only permit himself to be loved! This advice did not
displease him. In fact perhaps it was sensible to direct a wild life
full of adventures which, in reality, were meaningless, monotonous, and
profoundly unsatisfying, into the channels of a regulation domestic
existence. But if he himself decided to bring it to a close, it should
not be the end which Else wished to force upon him.

The more deeply he entered into the idea of the late marriage with Else,
the more angry it made him. What presumption in this woman, who was
years his senior! Did she really believe that he, according to her own
estimation a man in the prime of life, had no other claims upon existence
than to possess a home, in other words to have a housekeeper, who would
make him soups,