Finally, the laughter, too, had to come to an end, and then a long silence ensued. After a while, the first one asked, but softly, "Say,—was it not too bad that he put his arm round your waist?"
Either the other one made no reply to this, or else she spoke in such a low tone that it could not be heard; perhaps, too, she answered only with a smile. Presently the first one asked:—
"Have neither your father nor your mother said anything since?"
"Father came up and looked at me, but I kept hiding; for he laughed every time he saw me."
"But your mother?"
"Why, she said nothing; but she was less harsh than usual."
"Well, you certainly refused him?"
"Of course."
Then there was a long silence again.
"Eli!"