“I am not in favour of glueing things together,” replied Daniel. His eyes flashed green behind his glasses.
XVI
When the guests left, Philippina came in and cleaned up the room. Dorothea sat on the sofa. Her hands were lying in her lap; she was unusually serious.
“Why don’t your American ever come to see us?” asked Philippina, without apparent motive.
Dorothea was terrified. “Lock the door, Philippina,” she whispered, “I have something to tell you.”
Philippina locked the door, and went over to the sofa. “The American has to see me,” continued Dorothea, as her eyes roamed about the room in timid waywardness. “He says he wants to talk to me about something that will be of very great importance to me the rest of my life. He is living in a hotel, but I can’t go to a hotel. It will not do to have him come here, nor do I wish to be seen on the street with him. He has suggested a place where we might meet, but I am afraid: I do not know the people. Can’t you help me out, Philippina? Don’t you know some one to whom we can go and in whose house we can meet?”
Philippina’s eyes shone with their veteran glitter. She thought for a second or two, and then replied: “Oh, yes, I’ll tell you what you can do. Go down to Frau Hadebusch’s! She’s a good friend of mine, and you c’n depend on her. It don’t make no difference what takes place in her house; it won’t bother even the cat. You know Frau Hadebusch! Of course you do. What am I talking about! She is a widow, and lives all alone in a little house. She won’t rent; she says she don’t want the trouble. You know she’s no young woman any more. She is all alone, mind you. No one there but her son, and he’s cracked. Honest, the boy ain’t right.”
“Well, you go and talk it over with Frau Hadebusch, Philippina,” said Dorothea timidly.
“Very well, I’ll go see her to-morrow morning,” replied Philippina, smiled subserviently, and laid her horny hand on Dorothea’s tender shoulder.
“But listen, Philippina, be very, very careful. Do you hear?” Dorothea’s eyes became big and threatening. “Swear that you will be as silent as the tombs.”