Page:Karl Gjellerup - Minna, A novel - 1913.djvu/333

 home-sickness was rather overwhelming, and then, of course, also to avoid talk in Copenhagen. It is now said that she is visiting her people, though, as I have already remarked, it is in our days so usual, all educated people have got over these prejudices"

My dull incredulity had, during this explanation, given place to an absolutely conscious fury.

"It is you who have done it, you—you!"

My voice was stifled. I shook my fist in front of his face; he tore himself loose, a gendarme stepped towards us. Stephensen whispered a few words to him, shrugged his shoulders, and disappeared in the crowd. I leaned against a pillar; late-comers were rushing about, the conductors shouted, there was a sound of whistling and puffing.

As soon as I had recovered control of myself, I asked the porter whether there was a train for Pirna; but I had to wait until the next morning.

By the first train I was in Pirna, reached Sonnenstein breathless, and fortunately at once had an interview with the Professor. I presented myself as a friend of Mrs. Stephensen's and her husband's, the latter of whom I had met last night, and went on to say that I had promised frequently to give information to him about his wife's condition, as I was remaining in Dresden for some time. But as I myself was also very troubled about my friend, and only had been able to speak to Mr. Stephensen for a few minutes, I had at once hurried out, and now wanted earnestly to know the whole truth.

The Professor calmed me for the time being; there was hardly any cause for immediate fear, it was one of the cases for which in former days one would never have thought of applying to a doctor, and where the asylum essentially served to isolate the patient from mental infection. Further