“Oh, come along, Dorothea, do you hear me telling you? You will be in plenty of time and your brother will help you with the milking.”
“Ernest help! Oh, no!”
“Not on your life!” said that young man. “I never milk. I haven't for years. Well, come along then,” he added in a grudging voice.
“That is fine,” said Larry. “But, Dorothea, you ought to make him learn to milk. Why shouldn't he? The lazy beggar. Do you mean to say that he never helps with the milking?”
“Oh, never,” said Dorothea.
“Our men don't do women's work,” said Ernest. “It is not the German way. It is not fitting.”
“And what about women doing men's work?” said Larry. “It seems to me I have seen German women at work in the fields up in the Settlement.”
“I have no doubt you have,” replied Ernest stiffly. “It is the German custom.”
“You make me tired,” said Larry, “the German custom indeed! Does that make it right?”
“For us, yes,” replied Ernest calmly.