"Well, little girl," he went on, leaning back in his chair, "mother tells me wonderful things about you. You do the work of a bailiff."
"Of a housewife, you mean," she replied; and then blushed deeply, for she felt that she had said something silly.
"Oh, indeed," he laughed, and shook his finger at her, "not quite so far as that yet. You are not in such a hurry to become housewives, are you, children?"
Hertha drew herself rigidly erect. Her lips trembled with anger.
"I like work," she said, "and people who scoff at it are those who have forgotten the way to work."
He put down his coffee-cup, which had been halfway to his mouth, in sheer amazement, and stared at her silently for a moment. Then he said--
"Upon my soul! You seem to be a snappish little lady. I must take care in future."
Grandmamma now came to the rescue. Anxiously she took the girl's head between her dear old hands.
"She doesn't mean it," she said, and smoothed her over eyes and mouth, as if she would fain have wiped out the naughty speech.
Hertha was sorry with a feeling of dull regret; but she would rather have bitten her tongue out than let a word of apology pass her lips.