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of them should know； except her。 But she must be put on her guard。 He
might induce her to run away with him。''
‘‘Rindsvieh！'' muttered Ganser； his hair and whiskers bristling。
‘‘Dreck！''
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‘‘I want to ask you； as a man and a father； to see that this young lady is
warned。 She'll be anxious enough to keep quiet。 If you do； there
won't be any scandalat least not from there。''
‘‘I'll go down and warn her。 Where is she？ I'll speak to her father。''
‘‘And have him make a row？ No； there's only one way。 Send your
daughter to her。''
‘‘But you don't know my daughter。 She's a born'' Just in time
Ganser remembered that he was talking to a stranger and talking about his
daughter。 ‘‘She wouldn't do it right；'' he finished。
‘‘She can go in and see the young lady alone and come out without
speaking to anybody else。 I'll promise you there'll be no risk。''
Ganser thought it over and decided to take Otto's advice。 They
discussed Mr。 Feuerstein for several minutes； and when Otto left； Ganser
followed him part of the way down the stoop； shaking hands with him。 It
was a profound pleasure to the brewer to be able to speak his mind on the
subject of his son…in…law to an intelligent； appreciative person。 He talked
nothing else to his wife and Lena； but he had the feeling that he might as
well talk aloud to himself。
After supperthe Gansers still had supper in the evening； their
fashionable progress in that direction having reached only the stage at
which dinner is called luncheonhe put Lena into the carriage and they
drove to Avenue A。 On the way he told her exactly what to say and do。
He stayed in the carriage。 ‘‘Be quick；'' he said； ‘‘and no foolishness！''
Lena； swelling and rustling with finery and homelier than before her
troubles； little though they disturbed her； marched into the shop and up to
the end counter； where Hilda was standing。
‘‘You are Miss Hilda Brauner？'' she said。 ‘‘I want to see you alone。''
Hilda looked her surprise but showed Lena into the living…room； which
happened to be vacant。 Lena could not begin； so intent was she upon
examining her rival。 ‘‘How plain she's dressed；'' she thought； ‘‘and how
thin and black she is！'' But it was in vain； she could not deceive her
rising jealousy。 It made her forget her father's instructions； forget that
she was supposed to hate Feuerstein and was getting rid of him。
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‘‘I am Mrs。 Carl Feuerstein；'' she cried； her face red and her voice
shrill with anger and excitement。 ‘‘And I want you to stop flirting with
my husband！''
Hilda stood petrified。 Lena caught sight of a photograph on the
mantelpiece behind Hilda。 She gave a scream of fury and darted for it。
‘‘How dare you！'' she shrieked。 ‘‘You impudent THING！'' She
snatched the frame； tore it away from the photograph and flung it upon the
floor。 As she gazed at that hair like a halo of light； at those romantic
features and upturned eyes； she fell to crying and kissing them。
Hilda slowly turned and watched the spectaclethe swollen； pudgy
face； tear…stained； silly； ugly； the tears and kisses falling upon the likeness
of HER lover。 She suddenly sprang at Lena； her face like a thunder…
storm； her black brows straight and her great eyes flashing。 ‘‘You lie！''
she exclaimed。 And she tore the photograph from Lena's hands and
clasped it to her bosom。
Lena shrank in physical fear from this aroused lioness。 ‘‘He's my
husband；'' she whined。 ‘‘You haven't got any right to his picture。''
‘‘You lie！'' repeated Hilda； throwing back her head。
‘‘It's the truth；'' said Lena； beginning to cry。 ‘‘I swear to God it's so。
You can ask pa if it ain't。 He's Mr。 Ganser； the brewer。''
‘‘Who sent you here to lie about him to me？''
‘‘Oh； you needn't put on。 You knew he was married。 I don't wonder
you're mad。 He's MY husband； while he's only been making a fool of
YOU。 You haven't got any shame。'' Lena's eyes were on the
photograph again and her jealousy over…balanced fear。 She laughed
tauntingly。
‘‘Of course you're trying to brazen it out。 Give me that picture！
He's my husband！''
Just then Ganser appeared in the doorway he did not trust his
daughter and had followed her when he thought she was staying too long。
At sight of him she began to weep again。 ‘‘She won't believe me； pa；''
she said。 ‘‘Look at her standing there hugging his picture。''
Ganser scowled at his daughter and addressed himself to Hilda； ‘‘It's
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true； Miss；'' he said。 ‘‘The man is a scoundrel。 I sent my daughter to
warn you。''
Hilda looked at him haughtily。 ‘‘I don't know you；'' she said； ‘‘and I
do know him。 I don't know why you've come here to slander him。 But
I do know that I'd trust him against the whole world。'' She glanced from
father to daughter。 ‘‘You haven't done him any harm and you might as
well go。''
Peter eyed her in disgust。 ‘‘You're as big a fool as my Lena；'' he said。
‘‘Come on； Lena。''
As Lena was leaving the room； she gave Hilda a malignant glance。
‘‘He's MY husband；'' she said spitefully； ‘‘and you're well； I wouldn't
want to say what you are。''
‘‘Move！'' shouted Ganser； pushing her out of the room。 His parting
shot at Hilda was： ‘‘Ask him。''
Hilda； still holding the photograph； stared at the doorway through
which they had disappeared。 ‘‘You lie！'' she repeated； as if they were still
there。 Then again； a little catch in her voice： ‘‘You lie！'' And after a
longer interval； a third time； with a sob in her throat：