"Brandow will send a close carriage in any case," said Alma. "So much the worse," cried the Assessor. "You could not endure an hour in a close carriage, poor child. And then those terrible roads--I know them! To cross Dollan moor after it has rained all night--it's actually dangerous." "I will not expose you to the danger all alone," said Alma smiling. "That is very different, dear child. Men must follow wherever duty calls." "And the prospect of a good dinner--" "In a word, dear Alma, you would do me a favor if you would stay here." "I have not the least inclination to do you this favor, dear Hugo, and now what else is there, if I may ask?" The Assessor had risen and walked up and down the room. "Well, then," he said pausing, "you know how unwilling I am to deny you anything; but this time I really cannot allow you to go." Alma looked at her husband in astonishment; Ottilie, who could no longer control herself, burst into a merry laugh, exclaiming: "'Allow' is a word a husband should never be permitted to use to his wife." "Perhaps the word is not exactly suitable," said the Assessor; "but it does not alter the fact. And the fact is, that your husband has just given me certain information, which makes Alma's accompanying me this time appear not only undesirable, but even impossible. And your husband, my dear lady, is entirely of my opinion." "But Emil's solicitude carries him entirely too far," cried Frau Wollnow angrily; "poor Cecilia has not deserved this. That is attacking a woman's reputation, not only unnecessarily, but without the slightest reason. If people are so excessively strict, they will be obliged to give up all society." "I don't understand you, dear madam," said the Assessor, "at least I do not know what connection Frau Brandow's reputation could have with this very disagreeable affair." "Then I don't understand you," replied Ottilie.