Wirthin. Working? Mr. Stephenson, you never saw anything like it in the whole course of your life! It’s absolutely wonderful the way it works.
S. Succeeds? No—you don’t mean it.
Wirthin. Indeed I do mean it. I tell you, Mr. Stephenson, that plan was just an inspiration—that’s what it was. You could teach a cat German by it.
S. Dear me, this is noble news! Tell me about it.
Wirthin. Well, it’s all Gretchen—every bit of it. I told you she was a jewel. And then the sagacity of that child—why, I never dreamed it was in her. Sh-she, “Never you ask the young ladies a question—never let on—just keep mum—leave the whole thing to me,” sh-she.
S. Good! And she justified, did she?
Wirthin. Well, sir, the amount of German gabble that that child crammed into those two girls inside the next forty-eight hours—well, I was satisfied! So I’ve never asked a question—never wanted to ask any. I’ve just lain curled up there, happy. The little dears! they’ve flitted in to see me a moment, every morning and noon and supper-time; and as sure as I’m sitting here, inside of six days they were clattering German to me like a house afire!
S. Sp-lendid, splendid!
Wirthin. Of course it ain’t grammatical—the inventor of the language can’t talk grammatical; if the Dative didn’t fetch him the Accusative would; but it’s German all the same, and don’t you forget it!
S. Go on—go on—this is delicious news—