RAABE. Just let him study his fill! I'm not at all in favor of too much hurry! He'll get office and emoluments soon enough. SCHNAASE. I know one thing, _my_ boy will not get into a gymnasium! The agricultural school for him, till he can qualify for the one year's service and off with him. No big notions for him! RAABE (holds his side). Outch, there's my stitch again! RAABE, JR. Take a whisky, pa! Shall I get us a couple? RAABE. A few fingers might not do any harm. SCHNAASE. _Have_ the girl before you kiss her, according to Lehmann.[A] [Footnote A: Nickname of Emperor William I, who according to popular report took an interest in girls.] RAABE, JR. What'll you bet? I can get some! (He hastens to the rear.) RAABE. Divvel of a fellow! SCHNAASE. Well now, I'd just like to see. (Both of them follow RAABE, JR. to the rear.) MRS. VON TIEDEMANN and MRS. SCHNAASE come from the left arm in arm. MRS. VON TIEDEMANN (with a glance at the arrangements). That is not exactly extraordinary. MRS. SCHNAASE. Oh, I don't know, Elizabeth, I find it quite pretty. MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. And the wife does not seem to be much in evidence. MRS. SCHNAASE. Yes, she seems a bit high toned. MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. _Quite a bit._ I wonder what kind of notions _she_ has about the society that she has encountered here! MRS. SCHNAASE. Do you think they will stay here? MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. Such creatures blow in from Berlin, puff up like a turkey gobbler. I'd hate to know about her past! MRS. SCHNAASE. Mrs. Laskowski looks pretty interesting today. MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. Do you think so? Well, perhaps she has her reasons. MRS. SCHNAASE. You don't say! Do tell. MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. Don't you know about it at all? MRS. SCHNAASE. Why no, what? I don't get out very much, you know. MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. It was before your day. You were not here then. I have a dim recollection, when I was quite a young girl. MRS. SCHNAASE (all ear, seizes her arm). Is it possible? What was it? MRS. VON TIEDEMANN (subdued). She had an affair with him ... MRS. SCHNAASE. With whom, pray tell? MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. The man with whom she is standing there. MRS. SCHNAASE. Why that is young Mr. Warkentin. MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. Pst. They are coming. (Quite subdued.) Later she married her husband out of spite, because she did not get him! MRS. SCHNAASE (squints curiously at ANTOINETTE). To think that she would still talk to him! MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. Heavens, what does she care! (To DR. BODENSTEIN, who is quietly conversing with MERTENS at the fireplace.) Doctor, just a word! DR. BODENSTEIN. At your service, madam! (He straightens up promptly and hastens to her.) MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. I only wanted to ask about a trifling matter, Doctor. DR. BODENSTEIN. I shall be _delighted_, madam. MRS. VON TIEDEMANN. But no one must hear us. (Both disappear to the rear.)