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Frau Albertine Garlan sat on the sofa in an attitude of profound lassitude, and nodded her head. Elly stood, as usual, by the piano, her head resting on her hands, and she gazed open-eyed at her aunt. From her sister-in-law's Bertha went on to the Mahlmanns' and gave the twins their music lesson.
It seemed strange, and Bertha's mother could not refrain from commenting now and again upon it, that, since his diffident wooing in the old days, Herr Garlan had not once ventured so much as to make the slightest further allusion to the past, or even to a possible future.
The music served as a pleasant introduction to a game of cards, or, indeed, chimed in pleasantly with the game. She sat down at the piano. In the meantime the door of the smoking-room was opened; Garlan, Doctor Friedrich and Herr Martin took their seats at a small baize-covered table and began to play.
At that time Victor Mathias Garlan was no longer resident in Vienna. Two years before, the insurance company, in which he had been employed since he had reached the age of twenty, had, at his own request, transferred him, in the capacity of manager, to the recently-established branch in the little town on the Danube where his married brother carried on business as a wine merchant.
When Frau Mahlmann, fat and friendly as ever, came into the room and inquired whether Bertha was satisfied, the latter praised the children and added, as though suddenly inspired: "Now, I shall be able to give them a few days' holiday." "Holiday! How will that be, then, dear Frau Garlan?" "You see, Frau Mahlmann, I have no choice in the matter.
In the course of the following years Garlan used often to come to Vienna on business, and never omitted to visit Bertha's family on such occasions.
"Well, I cannot say anything definite yet," he said slowly; then, with a sudden resolution, he added: "Excuse me, Frau Garlan, but it is absolutely necessary for me to have a few words with Herr Rupius alone." Herr Rupius winced. "Then I won't disturb you," said Bertha mechanically, and she left them.
Bertha followed her accustomed path towards her husband's grave, but she felt that she had absolutely no object in going there. It was almost painful to her to read the words on the tombstone; they had no longer the least significance for her: "Victor Mathias Garlan, died the 6th June, 1895."
"Ah," broke in Herr Garlan, "if we must forgo our concert this afternoon we will have one in the evening instead your lead, Doctor." "The military concert?" asked Doctor Friedrich's wife. Frau Garlan rose to her feet. "Do you really mean to go to the 'Red Apple' this evening?" she asked her husband. "Certainly."
"Are you making an appearance in our house once more?" she said, handing her sunshade and hat to the maid, who had followed her into the room. "Are you also interested in pictures, Frau Garlan?" She went up close behind her husband and softly passed her hand over his forehead and hair. "I was just telling Frau Garlan," said Rupius, "how surprised I am that she never goes to Vienna."
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