Next day, she did. She made both of the girls stand and she told each one to say, “I’m sorry” when she counted three and came to the end. It really was a disgrace to the class to have the quarrel go on and on. The girls thought it horrid. But when Miss Allen said, “Three,” all was silence. The two stood up in the class and neither said a word! The plan did not work! “Speak!” ordered Miss Allen—but there was nothing but silence.
But Miss Allen was not going to give up, “Mary,” said she, “you may decline for me the feminine and neuter of the definite article in German.”
Mary looked surprised but she said it, “‘die, der, der, die, das, des, dem, das.’”
“Did you ever hear anything like that before?” asked Miss Allen of Betty Peters.
“Yes,” replied Betty.
“Did you?” asked Miss Allen of Laura.
“Was that what Mary said on the memorable day when she came out of German class?”
“I think so,” replied Laura, a little ashamed.
“Was it, Mary?”