Robert Allitsen had ordered a bottle of Sassella, and he was just pouring it out when Catharina brought in the _forellen_.
"Why, Catharina," he said, "you don't mean you've cooked them?
Then they will be good!" She smiled, and seemed pleased, and then went out of the room.
Then he told Bernardine her history, and spoke with such kindness and sympathy that Bernardine was again amazed at him.

But she made no remark.
"Catharina was always sorry that I was ill," he said.

"When I stayed here, as I have done, for weeks together, she used to take every care of me.

And it was a kindly sympathy which I could not resent.

In those days I was suffering more than I have done for a long time now, and she was very pitiful.