XIX


Emil ran out to meet Sanin--he had been watching for his arrival over
an hour--and hurriedly whispered into his ear that his mother knew
nothing of the disagreeable incident of the day before, that he must
not even hint of it to her, and that he was being sent to Klueber's
shop again!... but that he wouldn't go there, but would hide
somewhere! Communicating all this information in a few seconds, he
suddenly fell on Sanin's shoulder, kissed him impulsively, and rushed
away down the street. Gemma met Sanin in the shop; tried to say
something and could not. Her lips were trembling a little, while her
eyes were half-closed and turned away. He made haste to soothe her by
the assurance that the whole affair had ended ... in utter nonsense.

'Has no one been to see you to-day?' she asked.

'A person did come to me and we had an explanation, and we ... we came
to the most satisfactory conclusion.'

Gemma went back behind the counter.

'She does not believe me!' he thought ... he went into the next room,
however, and there found Frau Lenore.

Her sick headache had passed off, but she was in a depressed state of
mind. She gave him a smile of welcome, but warned him at the same time
that he would be dull with her to-day, as she was not in a mood to
entertain him. He sat down beside her, and noticed that her eyelids
were red and swollen.