A Little Garrison Part 2

"Certainly," chimed in her husband, masticating vigorously. "I shall call a meeting of the club next week, and then nothing will stand in the way."

"Charming!" enthusiastically fluted Frau Stark. "I love it pa.s.sionately, and you, of course, will all join in? You, my dear Frau Kahle, were one of the most zealous members last season. And how is it with you, Frau Konig?"

"I'll have to forego the pleasure," she replied, "for it does not agree with me."

"And your husband?"

"I don't know how to play," the captain said; "but I like to watch graceful ladies at it."

Frau Stark bit her lips and shot an angry glance at the captain. "What did he mean by 'graceful ladies,' anyway?" she thought. That was meant for her, no doubt. And she remembered unpleasant comment made because she with her fifty years had started riding a patient old mare belonging to her husband's squadron. One of the sergeants was giving her lessons.

"Some civilians, I believe, will join," broke in the colonel. "I will have a list circulating."

Everybody knew this was buncombe, the colonel being extremely unpopular in civilian circles, and they smiled incredulously.

"I will join you," said Herr von Konradi, "provided the heat is not excessive. Next week, however, I have no leisure. I must sow my peas, or it will be too late."

"Yes," put in Konig, "or they will not thrive."

"What? Not thrive? Peas will always turn out well if properly attended to," said the colonel's wife, with a touch of asperity.

"I fear I must contradict you, my gracious lady," retorted the captain. "Last year's did not turn out well anywhere."

"They must be sowed at moonlight, and not a word be spoken, then they will do finely, every time," said the Frau Colonel, eagerly. "But don't imagine that I am superst.i.tious. I am simply stating a fact."

It was a bold thing to do, for whatever the colonel's wife said must not be gainsaid, yet Lieutenant Bleibtreu could not help it. He laughingly said: "Sowing, therefore, bacon in between while the sun is s.h.i.+ning, we'll have one of my favorite dishes ready made."

The colonel's lady merely transfixed him with an envenomed stare.

After a dramatic interval she resumed: "But, come to think of it, I myself won't have leisure next week. My goose-liver _pates_ are not yet finished."

"You prepare them yourself?" asked the agricultural counsellor with deep interest.

"Of course. I do up six potfuls every year. The colonel dotes on this kind of stuff."

"And where do you procure your truffles, may I ask? I am myself looking for a trustworthy person."

"Truffles? Nonsense, it tastes every bit as good without them--that is all imagination."

"Oh, but you must excuse me, my gracious lady; truffles are the very soul of a goose-liver _pate_. Without them it is insipid--'Hamlet'

with Hamlet left out."

"'Hamlet'?" rejoined the lady with the governess face. "We were talking of truffles."

Herr von Konradi shrugged his shoulders. n.o.body else said a word. Just then Frau First Lieutenant Leimann entered. She looked as fresh and bright as the morning star.

"A thousand pardons, Frau Konig," she smiled, "but I had to finish some important letters." And she sat down in the place reserved for her.

"We heard you were suffering from headache," was the general remark.

"Headache? Yes, I forgot--I did have it. But that is such an old story with me that I scarcely think of mentioning it any more."

She was a handsome young woman, and the fact was made more apparent by the really tasteful gown she wore.

During all this time the adjutant had not said a word. He attended strictly to the business that had brought him here. His voracity attracted no attention, because everybody was used to it. Off and on he merely emitted a species of grunt in token of approval or dissent of what had been said. He was still eating when the hostess finally gave the signal to rise. Then everybody wished everybody else a "blessed digestion,"[4] and made for the adjoining rooms, where the ladies were served with coffee and the men with cordials, beer, and cigars.

[4] "Blessed digestion"--"Gesegnete Mahlzeit"--is the universal greeting in Germany after meals.--TR.

Informal chatting was indulged in. The colonel, after briefly despatching a trifling matter connected with the service, for which purpose he retained Muller, who was fairly oozing with good cheer, retired to a quiet corner with Frau Stark. Since their conversation was carried on in whispers, First Lieutenant Borgert, despite strenuous efforts to overhear, could only catch a phrase or a single word from time to time.

"You _must_ manage it," he heard her say.

"Let us hope that the annual inspection will turn out well," replied the colonel. "Last time our direct superiors were finding fault with your husband. It began in the stables, and I heard some talk about it."

"Never mind all that, Colonel, my husband _must_ be promoted to be major. I tell you plainly, if you drop him I shall--"

"Have no fears, my most gracious lady. I have given him a very brilliant report, though he doesn't deserve it, as you know. But I shall do my best."

"And you owe me your best, Colonel, as you very well know, for without me you would be to-day--"

Captain Konig came up.

"Will the Herr Colonel not accompany us next week on a wine-testing trip up the Moselle? Agricultural Counsellor von Konradi will make one of the party. Some exquisite growths are to be sold."

"Certainly, my dear Konig. You know that I always join in such expeditions. And with you in particular I like to go, for your dinner has shown me once more that you own a faultless 'wine tongue.'"

"Very flattering, Colonel. But I see you are still cigarless; everything is laid out in my room."

The colonel stepped into the next room. Frau Kahle was flirting with Lieutenant Pommer in one corner, while several young men were doing that with the pretty hostess in the other corner. Just then First Lieutenant Leimann entered from the dining-room, and behind him his spouse, making a wry face. Her mien became sunny, however, when First Lieutenant Borgert stepped up to her and inquired with solicitude as to the cause of grief.

"Oh! The usual thing," she snapped. "My husband has scolded me. You know his ungentlemanly ways. Always rude and offensive."

"What was the trouble this time?"

"Merely the fact that I had excused my lateness at table by pleading unfinished letters, while he had urged a headache. I am tired of his eternal fault-finding."

"That is valid reason for a divorce, my bewitching lady," smiled Borgert. "Look for another husband if you are tired of the present one."

She peered into his face inquiringly. "You don't imagine how serious I am."

"Ah, if that's the case, my dear lady, there is no time like the present for planning a change. How, for instance, would I do for a subst.i.tute? Now, honor bright?" and he playfully fondled her plump little hand.

She took this just as smilingly. "Before I answer," she said, coquettishly lowering her eyelids, "I must know what you have to offer me."

"Let us sit down then and discuss this most alluring topic in its various bearings," laughingly remarked he; and he led her to a divan, where they sat down side by side.

"Now, then, pay close attention, please," continued he. "I offer you an elegant home, a neat turnout, a tolerably groomed nag, a villa on Lake Zurich, and a host of serving genii."

"And who is to pay for it all?"