human
They think it is such a fine country, Karl. I cannot understand them. If they had never travelled--but they have been over Europe! They have been in Berlin! And still they find matter for admiration in this dirty little city with its buildings all heights, and its no trees anywhere except in the parks. Where are their beautiful statues? Where is their Victory Avenue? Where are their bridges? _Ach!_ It is a poor cheap country. Tante Edith and Mr. Eldred are heavenly kind, and Hannah I have loved with a great love, but they have very little taste, and no sense at all.
gpt
I did not mean to say that, Karl, she said penitently.
human
I am their guest. They are heavenly kind, yes. _But_ I do not like the country.
gpt
This reminds me, said Karl meditatively,
human
I shall do Germany credit, everywhere,
gpt
I'd like to think that, answered Karl,
human
But Hannah shows off.
gpt
Shows off? Frieda, I'm afraid your sense of humor is rather one-sided. Hannah may take advantage of your not understanding perfectly, but who taught her that that sort of thing was funny? Who told her the brass plate over the barber's door meant that cakes were for sale there, so that she almost went in to buy one?
human
It was not long I could fool her. She soon learned too much. Besides, my mother would not let me.
gpt
You still think it was justifiable and humorous, I notice. But what would you have said if Hannah had told you to say: 'So am I' when strangers said: 'I am glad to meet you'? That was what some one told me, when I first began talking English.
human
If Hannah should tell me wrong, I would tell her what I think of her! blazed Frieda.
gpt
But you need not lecture any more, Karl. I understand, and I will be good. I will be better than Hannah. I will be better than yourself, than the saints, even. I will admire all things. Behold the ravishing country! The wonder of that sky! Not Italy, not Spain has such a dull gray color! The beauty of the dirty streets! The charm of the crowded street-cars! Only five cents a ride, sitting upon the laps of others! I will no longer sew on Sunday. I will never ask for beer. I will eat every morning little dry cushions of curled grain. I will rock madly. I will--
human
Hold on, Frieda! shouted Karl.
gpt
Don't reform so fast. I can't keep within speaking distance of you. You know, the reason I scolded you so hard was because I sometimes feel just as you do about the whole country!
human
Let us make a compact. For the honor of Germany, we will be scrupulously careful of what we say about America, but sometimes, all by ourselves, we can say just what we feel like saying. Karl took her hand solemnly.
gpt
It's a bargain, and you are a Cor-r-rker-r-r!