essor said.

Wiek after all turned out to be hardly more than five miles from Arkona,
but it was heavy going. What with the bicycle and my wet skirts and the
high talk we got along slowly, and my soul grew more chilled with every
step by the thought of the complications the presence of the
Harvey-Brownes was going to make in the delicate task of persuading
Charlotte to return to her husband.

Brosy knew very well that there was something unusual in the Nieberlein
relations, and was plainly uneasy at being thrust into a family meeting.
When the red roofs and poplars of Wiek came in sight he sank into
thoughtfulness, and we walked the last mile in our heavy, sand-caked
shoes in almost total silence. The carriage and cart had disappeared
long ago, urged on, no doubt, by the Professor's eagerness to get to
Charlotte and away from Mrs. Harvey-Browne, and we were quite near the
first cottages when August appeared coming back to fetch us, driving
very fast, with Gertrud's face peering anxiously round the hood. It was
only a few yards from there to the open space in the middle of the
village in which the two inns are, and Brosy got on his bicycle while I
drove with Gertrud, wrapped in all the rugs she could muster.

There are two inns at Wiek, and one is the best. The Professor had gone
to each to inquire for his wife, and I found him striding about in front
of the one that is the best, and I saw at once by the very hang of his
cloak and position of his hat that Charlotte was not there.

'Gone! gone!' he cried, before the carriage stopped even. 'Gone this
very day--this very morning, gone at eight, at the self-same hour we
wasted over those accursed flounders. Is it not sufficient to make a
poor husband become mad? After months of patience? To miss her
everywhere by a few miserable hours? I told thee, I begged thee, to
bring me on last night----'

Brosy, now of a quite deadly anxiety to keep out of Nieberlein
complications, removed himself and his bicycle with all possible speed.
Mrs. Harvey-Browne, watching my arrival from an upper window, waved a
genial hand with ill-timed cordiality whenever I looked her way. The
landlord and his wife carried in all the rugs that dropped off me
unheeded into the mud when I got out, and did not visibly turn a hair at
my peaked hood and draggled garments.

'Where has she gone?' I asked, as soon as I could get the Professor to
keep still and listen. 'We'll drive after her the first thing