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his forehead. He could not understand what strange emo-
tion distracted him; he seemed to feel something infinitely
attractive, and yet he was repelled and horrified.
For several days things went on. The air was sickly with
the unnatural passion which all felt about them, and the
nerves of the little household seemed to grow exasperated.
Only Herr Sung remained unaffected; he was no less smil-
ing, affable, and polite than he had been before: one could
not tell whether his manner was a triumph of civilisation or
an expression of contempt on the part of the Oriental for the
vanquished West. Cacilie was flaunting and cynical. At last
even the Frau Professor could bear the position no longer.
Suddenly panic seized her; for Professor Erlin with brutal
frankness had suggested the possible consequences of an
intrigue which was now manifest to everyone, and she saw
her good name in Heidelberg and the repute of her house
ruined by a scandal which could not possibly be hidden. For
some reason, blinded perhaps by her interests, this possibil-
ity had never occurred to her; and now, her wits muddled by
a terrible fear, she could hardly be prevented from turning
the girl out of the house at once. It was due to Anna’s good
sense that a cautious letter was written to the uncle in Ber-
lin suggesting that Cacilie should be taken away.
But having made up her mind to lose the two lodgers,
the Frau Professor could not resist the satisfaction of giving
rein to the ill-temper she had curbed so long. She was free
now to say anything she liked to Cacilie.
‘I have written to your uncle, Cacilie, to take you away. I
cannot have you in my house any longer.’

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