LOULOU." He would like to have gone directly to the Lennestrasse, but etiquette stood between him and his fiancee, and showed him in its cold fashion that they were now in the city and not in the forest, that nature had nothing to do with them here, and had handed them over to the laws of society.

However, as soon as he dared venture, he went and rang at the door-bell.

This first visit was a combination of painful feelings for Wilhelm, for while his heart beat, that now he was near the dearest one on earth, he was conscious that here he was a stranger.

A servant dressed in black who opened the door did not seem to expect him, and asked him whom he wanted.

When Wilhelm asked for Frau Ellrich, he said shortly that she was not at home.