Not that you would find things in actual disorder; but all the same
there would be a kind of semi-order. I do not at all fancy the idea of
Richard routing among my papers now that we are no longer a married
couple.

With every good wish,
Your cousin,
ELSIE LINDTNER.




MY DEAR, KIND FRIEND, AND FORMER HUSBAND,

Is there not a good deal of style about that form of address? Were you
not deeply touched at receiving, in a strange town, flowers sent by a
lady? If only the people understood my German and sent them to you in
time!

For an instant a beautiful thought flashed through my mind: to welcome
you in this way in every town where you have to stay. But since I only
know the addresses of one or two florists in the capitals, and I am too
lazy to find out the others, I have given up this splendid folly, and
simply note it to my account as a "might-have-been."

Shall I be quite frank, Richard? I am rather ashamed when I think of
you, and I can honestly say that I never respected you more than to-day.
But it could not have been otherwise. I want you to concentrate all your
will-power to convince yourself of this. If I had let myself be
persuaded to remain with you, after this great need for solitude had