A. As sure as guns!

M. I don’t mean that!  Tell me again, that—­

A. (Springing up and waltzing about the room.) They’re here—­in this very village—­to learn German—­for three months!  Es sollte mich sehr freuen wenn Sie—­

M. (Joining in the dance.) Oh, it’s just too lovely for anything!  (Unconsciously memorising:) Es ware mir lieb wenn Sie morgen mit mir in die Kirche gehen konnten, aber ich kann selbst nicht gehen, weil ich Sonntags gewohnlich krank bin.  Juckhe!

A. (Finishing some unconscious memorising.)—­morgen Mittag bei mir speisen konnten.  Juckhe!  Sit down and I’ll tell you all I’ve heard.  (They sit.) They’re here, and under that same odious law that fetters us —­our tongues, I mean; the metaphor’s faulty, but no matter.  They can go out, and see people, only on condition that they hear and speak German, and German only.

M. Isn’t—­that—­too lovely!

A. And they’re coming to see us!

M. Darling! (Kissing her.) But are you sure?

A. Sure as guns—­Gatling guns!

M.  ’Sh! don’t, child, it’s schrecklich!  Darling—­you aren’t mistaken?

A. As sure as g—­batteries! [They jump up and dance a moment—­then—­]

M. (With distress.) But, Annie dear!—­we can’t talk German—­and neither can they!

A. (Sorrowfully.) I didn’t think of that.

M. How cruel it is!  What can we do?

A. (After a reflective pause, resolutely.) Margaret—­we’ve got to.

M. Got to what?

A. Speak German.

M. Why, how, child?

A. (Contemplating her pamphlet with earnestness.) I can tell you one thing.  Just give me the blessed privilege:  just hinsetzen Will Jackson here in front of me, and I’ll talk German to him as long as this Meisterschaft holds out to burn.

M. (Joyously.) Oh, what an elegant idea!  You certainly have got a mind that’s a mine of resources, if ever anybody had one.

A. I’ll skin this Meisterschaft to the last sentence in it!

M. (With a happy idea.) Why Annie, it’s the greatest thing in the world.  I’ve been all this time struggling and despairing over these few little Meisterschaft primers:  but as sure as you live, I’ll have the whole fifteen by heart before this time day after to-morrow.  See if I don’t.

A. And so will I; and I’ll trowel in a layer of Ollendorff mush between every couple of courses of Meisterschaft bricks.  Juckhe!

M. Hoch! hoch! hoch!

A. Stoss an!

M. Juckhe!  Wir werden gleich gute deutsche Schulerinnen werden!  Juck—­

A. —­he!

M. Annie, when are they coming to see us?  To-night?

A. No.

M. No?  Why not?  When are they coming?  What are they waiting for?  The idea!  I never heard of such a thing!  What do you—­

A. (Breaking in.) Wait, wait, wait! give a body a chance.  They have their reasons.