XIX。
TheearlyMondaymorningtrainwhichbroughtVerrianuptotownwassoveryearlythathecouldsitdowntobreakfastwithhismotheronlyalittlelaterthantheirusualhour。
Shehadcalledjoyfullytohimfromherroom，whensheheardtherattlingofhiskeyashelethimselfintotheapartment，and，afteranexchangeofgreetings，shoutedbackandforthbeforetheysaweachother，theycouldcomeatoncetothehistoryofhisabsenceovertheircoffee。
\"Youmusthavehadaverygoodtime，tostaysolong。AfteryouwrotethatyouwouldnotbebackThursday，IexpecteditwouldbeSaturdaytillIgotyourtelegram。ButI’mgladyoustayed。Youcertainlyneededtherest。\"
\"Yes，ifthosethingsareeverarest。\"Helookeddownathiscupwhilehestirredthecoffeeinit，andshestudiedhisattitude，sinceshecouldnotseehisfacefully，forthesecretofanyvitalchangethatmighthavecomeuponhim。Itcouldbethatintheintervalsinceshehadseenhimhehadseenthewomanwhowastotakehimfromher。Shewasalwayspreparingherselfforthat，knowingthatitmustcomealmostascertainlyasdeath，andknowingthatwithallherpreparationsheshouldnotbereadyforit。\"I’vegotratheralongstorytotellyouandratherastrangestory，\"hesaid，liftinghisheadandlookinground，butnotsoimpersonallythathismotherdidnotknowwellenoughtosaytotheSwedishserving-woman：