Elise turned herself round in surprise, and her surprise changed itself into the most delightful sensation of joy, as the lips of her husband were pressed to her forehead.
"Ah, you!" exclaimed Elise, and threw her arms round his neck, and caressingly stroked his cheek.
"I shall get wet through with all this," said he, laughing, yet without leaving the bath, nay, he even stooped down his head to little Gabriele, kissed her, and allowed her to splash him with water.
"Thank God! all is right again! and perhaps it will be best to take no further notice of this unpleasant affair!" thought she, and prepared to follow her husband into the parlour.
The Judge had, probably, during his bad tea at the club, held with the invisible speakers the same conversation, with some variations, as his wife during his absence, the consequence whereof was his visit to the bathing-room, and the shower of flowers from the nosegay he had brought with him for her, and the kiss of reconciliation which effaced every thoughtless and wounding word.

He felt now quite pleased that everything was as it should be, and that the gentle and yielding temper of his wife would require nothing further.

But, perhaps, on that very account, he was dissatisfied with himself, her eyes red with weeping grieved him, especially as they beamed so kindly upon him, he felt that he misused the power which circumstances had given him over his wife; he felt that he had behaved harshly to her, and therefore he had no peace with himself, therefore he felt a necessity to pronounce one word--one word, which it is so hard for the lips of a man to pronounce, yet, which Ernst Frank was too manly, too firm to shrink from.
When, therefore, his wife entered, he offered her his hand; "Forgive me, Elise," said he, with the deepest feeling; "I have behaved severely, nay, absurdly to-day!" "Oh, forgive me, Ernst!" said Elise, deeply affected, whilst she pressed his hand to her heart and---- Accursed be all disturbers of peace in this world! Such a one entered at that moment, and undid that which would otherwise have bound them so closely to each other.

It was a messenger from the Colonel's widow with a note, together with a book for the Judge, and two little bottles of select Eau de rose for Elise, "of which, I know," said the note, "she is very fond." The Judge's cheek grew crimson as he read the note, which he did not show to his wife.
"An extremely polite and interesting person," said he; "I will immediately answer it." "Ernst," said Elise, "should we not invite her to dinner to-morrow?
I thought of something very nice, which is sure to succeed; then we could go altogether to the concert, and afterwards she might sup with us." "Now that is a good idea, and I thank you for it, my sweet Elise," said he, extremely pleased.
Yes, if the Colonel's widow had not been there--if the Candidate had not been there--and if there had been no _if_ in the case, all might have gone on quite smoothly.

But it was quite otherwise..