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—
WIRTHIN. Gretchen, she says to me at the start, ‘Never you mind about company for ’em,’ sh-she—‘I’m company enough.’ And I says, ‘All right—fix it your own way, child;’ and that she was right is shown by the fact that to this day they don’t care a straw for any company but hers.
S. Dear me; why, it’s admirable!
WIRTHIN. Well, I should think so! They just dote on that hussy—can’t seem to get enough of her. Gretchen tells me so herself. And the care she takes of them! She tells me that every time there’s a moonlight night she coaxes them out for a walk; and if a body can believe her, she actually bullies them off to church three times every Sunday!
S. Why, the little dev—missionary! Really, she’s a genius!
WIRTHIN. She’s a bud, I tell you! Dear me, how she’s brought those girls’ health up! Cheeks?—just roses. Gait?—they walk on watch-springs! And happy?—by the bliss in their eyes, you’d think they’re in Paradise! Ah, that Gretchen! Just you imagine our trying to achieve these marvels!
S. You’re right—every time. Those girls—why, all they’d have wanted to know was what we wanted done, and then they wouldn’t have done it—the mischievous young rascals!
WIRTHIN. Don’t tell me? Bless you, I found that out early—when I was bossing.
S. Well, I’m im-mensely pleased. Now fetch them down. I’m not afraid now. They won’t want to go home.