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The Upper Rhine : Mayence to the Lake of Constance
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148

DOMESTIC MAHNERS OF THE PRUSSIANS.

were sure she was not, and never would be if she went on inthe way she clid.

Then one of the party informed the rest, that she hadactually heard that impudent Engländer " dutzen " (tu-toi)Fraulein Rotheshaar; at which the united hands and eye-brows were thrown up, and the religious and lady-like assemblyone and all blasphemed.

After this another lady told her sisters that some lately-married couple had been blessed with a beautiful little boy;whereupon the lips of the ladies all went to work in silence,for they were evidently engaged in a little bit of mental arith-metic concerning the calendar, and when the calculation wasended they severally tossedtheir heads and cried "Lieber Gott!"

Next the news was circulated that the Provisor at theApotheke's was going to be married again, although his wifehad been dead only three weeks; but then it was universallyallowed that there was a great excuse for the poor man, as hehad a large family — though, to be sure, not one of the childrenwas a bit like him.

Presently the ladies began to compare notes as to theirservants, and then each pronounced her " braves Mädchen " tobe the very worst in the town. One of the ladies declared hergirl was too grand to eat apple-parings done in fat for hersupper; another vowed that hers had been very impudent, andhad threatened to go to the police if she would not let her havea fire to sit by, though she was sure the winter was very mild.

And when such subjects had been exhausted, the lady ofthe house, as a great treat, produced her new bonnet, that hadbeen made and trimmed exactly after the Princess's last; forthe head-woman of her Royal Highness's milliner was closelyrelated to her, and so she could always depend upon having theinost stylish things.

The supper-parties that are occasionally given are but little

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