with trunks and chests. The first one Graesler unlocked seemed to contain nothing but old curtains and house-linen; and Graesler, who had no intention of unpacking and putting these things in order himself, let the lid fall shut. A longish, coffin-like chest which he now opened seemed to promise more notable contents. Graesler saw all sorts of papers lying before him, partly in the form of legal documents, letters in envelopes, large and small packets tied together with string; on one of the latter he read, "Left by Father." Doctor Graesler had not known that his sister had preserved this sort of thing so carefully. He picked up a second packet with three seals on which was hand-printed, in capital letters, "To be destroyed unread." Doctor Graesler shook his head sadly. "When the time comes, my poor Friederike," he thought to himself, "your wish shall be fulfilled." He put the packet, which probably contained diaries and innocent love-letters of her girlhood, back in its place and opened a third trunk; here fabrics had been stored, shawls, ribbons, and yellowed laces. He took some of them out, let them slip back through his fingers, and believed he even recognized one or another of the articles from his mother's time or even his grandmother's. Some of them his sister had worn herself, especially in earlier days. And he remembered having seen upon her shoulders, not at all a long time before, the beautiful Indian shawl with the embroidered green leaves and flowers; years ago a rich patient who was leaving had given him this shawl as a present for his sister. It, as well as several other things he found, was certainly of no use to the printer's wife or any charitable institution—but they did all the better for a pretty young lady who could be so kind as to enliven and sweeten a few poor secret hours of a lonely old bachelor's life. He locked the trunk with special care, spread the shawl smoothly over his arm, and, with a smile of contentment playing about his lips, he left the room as it sank gradually into darkness.
He did not have long to wait before Katharina arrived, a little in advance of the appointed hour—straight from the store and without having dolled up first, as she excused herself jestingly. Doctor Graesler was glad that she had come, kissed her hand, and with a humorous bow handed her the shawl, which had been laid out, ready for her, on the table.
"Why, what can this be?" she asked him, astonished.
"Something to help you doll up," he replied, "even if you don't exactly need it."
