Kläre laughed aloud.
"Anyhow," said she, "the women really aren't as bad as you make them out, Fatty."
The senior-lieutenant would not agree: "Now, now, Kläre, I was within earshot when all the divinities sat together discussing whether you would have hands roughened by "service," by polishing glasses, washing children, and such like."
Kläre was a little vexed. "Well," she cried, "would you have had them eat me up out of affection at the first go-off?"
"That's just what does happen sometimes," said her husband. "The moment Frau Kauerhof first appeared on the scene, a perfect stranger to them all, they threw themselves upon her neck, and hugged and kissed her, as if they had been her adoring sisters. Of course, Frau Kauerhof was a von Lüben, the daughter of a colonel and head of a department in the War Office, and you, my Kläre--shame on you!--were a governess!"
But the young wife insisted more vehemently: "Now do be reasonable!" she cried. "It has really become quite an idée fixe with you that I have not been received with due respect. I can only assure you again and again that all the ladies have been most polite and amiable towards me."
Güntz growled on: "Geese, a pack of stupid geese!"
"For shame, Fatty!" Kläre remonstrated.
But he continued to grumble. "Has a single one of them embraced you as they did Frau Kauerhof? Has one of them even kissed you? Has one been really nice and friendly to you?"
"Look here," cried Kläre quite roused, "I don't want any of them to fall on my neck when they scarcely know me. And as it happens, one has been kind to me, very kind indeed!"