There could be no further doubt. Her first love, her first lover ... her brave young champion in life's battle. Hers and St. Joseph's protege! Oh dear, yes, St. Joseph! And then the revolver! And the potato soup with sliced sausage! Oh!... and "The graves at Ottensen"! "Herr Redlich! Herr Redlich!" Trembling and laughing she stood behind him, holding out her two hands to the young man, who shrank back nervously. He dropped his goggles and gazed blankly at the tall, elegantly dressed lady, from behind whose lace veil two star-like, tear-filled eyes gave him a blissful greeting. His red lids blinked suspiciously; then he raised his left hand with a clumsy gesture to his hat brim. "But, Herr Redlich ... Don't you know me? I am Lilly--Lilly Czepanek. Don't you remember Lilly?" Yes, now he remembered. "Of course," he said, "why shouldn't I remember you?" At the same moment he pulled down his waistcoat with a stealthy jerk, as if to rectify as best he could the shortcomings of his personal appearance. "Oh, Herr Redlich, what a long time it is since we've met! It must, I think, be six or eight years. No, it can't be as long; and yet to me it seems longer. Things have gone well with you, I hope? I expect you are terribly busy, otherwise we might spend a little time together." He certainly was busy, but, in spite of that, if she liked, he could spare her a quarter of an hour. "Shall we go into a restaurant," she suggested, still half-crying and half-laughing, "and have a glass of beer? I can hardly believe it, Herr Redlich, that we've really met again." He had decided objections to the glass of beer. "Restaurants are so stuffy and crowded," he said, "and the beer about here is so bad--not fit to drink." "Poor fellow! He's too poor to pay for it," she thought; and she suggested that they should sit down on a seat somewhere instead. He didn't mind doing that so long as ... He glanced shyly to the right and left to see if anyone had remarked what a badly matched couple they were. They walked side by side along the more secluded Weinsberg path. Lilly kept looking at him with pride and emotion, as if she had created him out of space. "Dear, dear Herr Redlich," she reiterated, "is it possible?--is it possible?" Then they found a bench outside a church, in a dusky spot, overhung with lilac branches. A pair of lovers had just vacated it. "Now tell me everything, Herr Redlich. Oh dear, what a lot we have to tell each other!" "There is a good deal," he replied, hesitating; "perhaps the gracious baroness will begin?" "Pooh! I am not a 'gracious baroness' now, and haven't been for a long time." "Ah! so I think I have heard," he replied, and his tone implied blame and a sense of outrage.