Felicitas came back, lovely and deprecating, as if the conversation had been on some theme of farming or agriculture, which women are not supposed to understand.
But as the two men continued to stare before them in a brown study, she put in her word, with a pretty hesitation and helplessness, like one who is certain that she is going to say something stupid.
"If you don't mind," she said, "I think that we ought to make the world take the responsibility."
"For what?"
Neither of them understood her.
"For your coming together."
"How can we?" asked Leo.
"I don't know yet; ... but I'll think it over. And when I have hit on something, I'll let you know, dear Leo, at once."
She spoke with such a comic, important little air that Ulrich broke into relieved laughter, and said, with jocose pity--
"Poor child! She's going to think it over."