"Those children are great sport," she said.
"Papa once threw a bottle against the wall," Siegfried went on, "because Uncle Bolle was always coming to see us."
And so the children continued, like little wiseacres, to discuss in detail the theme of "happy marriages."
"Rosa says mamma is to blame because papa left us," observed Siegfried.
"I think so, too," said Ella. "I think mamma's to blame."
"Rosa said mamma doesn't do anything but read novels."
"Rosa says," Ella chimed in, "that if mamma were not always lying in bed, she would feel much better."
And "Rosa says," "Rosa says," went on for a long while. The former non-commissioned officer and lackey of the vaudeville star, Bulke, came towing Rosa across the deck in the same way as he did his master. Both looked red and contented. Frederick asked what the prospects were for the Roland.
"Oh, everything's all right," Bulke laughed, "if only something else doesn't turn up."
"Bulke," said Rosa, "take Siegfried on your back."