Page:H.M. The Patrioteer.djvu/165

Rh she and Guste need want for nothing, thank God. The only thing that worried them was whether to furnish in Old German or "Louis Kangze" style. Diederich warmly recommended Old German; he had seen it in the best houses in Berlin. But Frau Daimchen was suspicious. "Who knows whether you have called on such nice people as us. You can't tell me, I know what it means when people make a show as if they had money, when they haven't." At a loss what to reply, Diederich remained silent, while Frau Daimchen complacently drummed with her fingers on her stomach. Fortunately Guste came in, with a great rustling of petticoats. Diederich sprang gracefully from his chair, and said, with a bow, as he kissed her hand: "Gnädigstes Fräulein!" Guste laughed. "Mind you don't break anything!" But she consoled him at once. "It is easy to recognise a real gentleman. Lieutenant von Brietzen always does that, too."

"Yes, indeed," said Frau Daimchen, "all the officers visit us. Only yesterday I was saying to Guste: 'Guste, says I, we could have a crest embroidered on every chair, for members of the nobility have sat on every one of them.'"

Guste made a grimace. "As far as birth is concerned, and everything else, for that matter, Netzig is awfully so-so. I think we'll move to Berlin." To this Frau Daimchen agreed. "We shouldn't indulge these people," she said. "Only to-day old Frau Harnisch nearly burst her sides laughing when she saw my silk dress."

"That's mother all over," said Guste. "As long as she can brag it is all right. But I am thinking of my fiance. Do you know that Wolfgang has passed his final examination? But what can he do here in Netzig? With our money he can get somewhere in Berlin." Diederich said: "He always wanted to become a minister of state, or something." With a faint sneer he added: "That's so easy, they say!"

Guste immediately bridled up. "Old Herr Buck's son is a