Miss Lyndesay smiled at Frieda and Frieda smiled in return, but had almost immediately to be drawn forcibly into the carriage by Karl.
“You can see enough of America without putting your head out,” he suggested. “It is an interesting country, but not worth so much effort, I assure you.”
114They were driving down Commonwealth Avenue by this time, and even Frieda’s Berlin had never shown her a pleasanter and more decorous street. Karl thought, as she leaned forward, that she was trying to get a better view of the trumpeting angels on the spire of the church they were passing, but he was destined to be undeceived.
“I care nothing for America,” said Frieda scornfully. “But I do not trust that man. I cannot see all my Handgepäck, only the ends of two bags. Let us stop him and count them!”
“Americans don’t steal!” said Hannah hotly.
“Neither do Germans!” cried Frieda, and Karl looked at the two with consternation.
“See here, Kinder,” he put in. “This is a little too much like old times. You are two years older now, and shouldn’t be so belligerent.”
“Bell-i-gerent?” Frieda fumbled in her coat pocket and brought out a little red book. “I do not know that word. I will seek him.”
“O, dear,” moaned Hannah. “Are you going around seeking words in a dictionary all the time, Frieda? I’ll put a stop to that, you’d better believe.”
Miss Lyndesay watched the little scene in silence. On the way across the ocean she had wondered more than once what effect Frieda’s decidedly young and aggressive nature would have on Hannah, whom she knew to be easily affected by her companions.