Andreas would probably be busy in his office. She had not seen him for two days; very likely it was an accident, but it was so. And she had accepted a hundred crowns from him, although he was ruined! Dear me, that she hadn't thought of this before now! She had asked him for that money. "Yes," he had said; "will you please come into the office? I have not so much with me." And he had opened his safe and given her the hundred; perhaps it was all the money he had! He had proffered the bill in such a gentle and unobtrusive manner, although, perhaps, it was all the money he owned! His hair had turned a little grey and he looked as if he hadn't had much sleep lately; but he had not complained; his words were spoken in proud and simple dignity. It had seemed as if she saw him then for the first time.... Oh, would that she never had asked him for this money! Perhaps he might forgive her if she brought it back. Would she bother him very much if she stopped at his office a moment? She would not stay long.... Mrs. Hanka dried her eyes beneath her veil and walked on. When at last she stood outside Tidemand's office she hesitated. Suppose he turned her out? Perhaps he even knew where she had been? A clerk told her that Tidemand was in. She knocked and listened. He called: "Come in." She entered quietly. He was standing at his desk; he put down his pen when he saw her. "Pardon me if I disturb you," she said hurriedly. "Not at all," he said, and waited. A pile of letters was before him; he stood there, tall and straight; he did not look so very grey, and his eyes were not so listless. She took the bill out and held it toward him. "I only wanted to return this; and please forgive me for asking for money when I might have known that you must need it so badly. I never thought of it until now; I am extremely sorry." He looked at her in surprise and said: "Not at all--you just keep that! A hundred more or less means nothing to the business--nothing at all." "Yes, but--please take it! I ask you to take it." "All right, if you don't need it. I thank you, but it is not necessary." He had thanked her! What a fortunate thing that she had the money and could give it back to him! But she suppressed her agitation and said "Thank you" herself as she shoved the bill over toward him. When she saw him reach for his pen again, she said with a wan smile: "You must not be impatient because of this long delay--I have made very little progress in the matter of taking an apartment, but--" She could control herself no longer; her voice broke entirely and she turned away from him, fumbling for her handkerchief with trembling fingers. "There is no great hurry about that," he said. "Take all the time you want." "I thank you." "You thank me? I don't quite understand. It isn't I who--I am simply trying to make it easy for you to have your own way." She was afraid she had irritated him, and she said hastily: