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〃And that is just why I love you；〃 I thought。 She often says what I feel。
〃I wonder；〃 she went on after a pause； 〃whether men ever make resolutions？〃
〃I don't think they do。 Only women indulge in such luxuries。 It is a nice sort of feeling； when you have nothing else to do； giving way to endless grief and penitence； and steeping yourself to the eyes in contrition； but it is silly。 Why cry over things that are done？ Why do naughty things at all； if you are going to repent afterward？ Nobody is naughty unless they like being naughty； and nobody ever really repents unless they are afraid they are going to be found out。〃
〃By 'nobody' of course you mean women； said Irais。
〃Naturally； the terms are synonymous。 Besides； men generally have the courage of their opinions。〃
〃I hope you are listening； Miss Minora；〃 said Irais in the amiably polite tone she assumes whenever she speaks to that young person。
It was getting on towards midnight； and we were sitting round the fire； waiting for the New Year； and sipping Glubwein； prepared at a small table by the Man of Wrath。 It was hot； and sweet； and rather nasty； but it is proper to drink it on this one night； so of course we did。
Minora does not like either Irais or myself。 We very soon discovered that； and laugh about it when we are alone together。 I can understand her disliking Irais； but she must be a perverse creature not to like me。 Irais has poked fun at her； and I have been； I hope； very kind； yet we are bracketed together in her black books。 It is also apparent that she looks upon the Man of Wrath as an interesting example of an ill…used and misunderstood husband； and she is disposed to take him under her wing； and defend him on all occasions against us。 He never speaks to her； he is at all times a man of few words； but； as far as Minora is concerned； he might have no tongue at all； and sits sphinx…like and impenetrable while she takes us to task about some remark of a profane nature that we may have addressed to him。 One night； some days after her arrival； she developed a skittishness of manner which has since disappeared； and tried to be playful with him； but you might as well try to be playful with a graven image。 The wife of one of the servants had just produced a boy； the first after a series of five daughters； and at dinner we drank the health of all parties concerned； the Man of Wrath making the happy father drink a glass off at one gulp； his heels well together in military fashion。 Minora thought the incident typical of German manners； and not only made notes about it； but joined heartily in the health…drinking； and afterward grew skittish。
She proposed； first of all； to teach us a dance called； I think； the Washington Post； and which was； she said； much danced in England； and； to induce us to learn； she played the tune to us on the piano。 We remained untouched by its beauties； each buried in an easy…chair toasting our toes at the fire。 Amongst those toes were those of the Man of Wrath； who sat peaceably reading a book and smoking。 Minora volunteered to show us the steps； and as we still did not move； danced solitary behind our chairs。 Irais did not even turn her head to look； and I was the only one amiable or polite enough to do so。 Do I deserve to be placed in Minora's list of disagreeable people side by side with Irais？ Certainly not。 Yet I most surely am。
〃It wants the music； of course；〃 observed Minora breathlessly； darting in and out between the chairs； apparently addressing me； but glancing at the Man of Wrath。
No answer from anybody。
〃It is such a pretty dance；〃 she panted again； after a few more gyrations。
No answer。
〃And is all the rage at home。〃
No answer。
〃Do let me teach you。 Won't you try； Herr Sage？〃
She went up to him and dropped him a little curtesy。 It is thus she always addresses him； entirely oblivious to the fact； so patent to every one else； that he resents it。
〃Oh come； put away that tiresome old book；〃 she went on gaily； as he did not move； 〃I am certain it is only some dry agricultural work that you just nod over。 Dancing is much better for you。〃 Irais and I looked at one another quite frightened。 I am sure we both turned pale when the unhappy girl actually laid hold forcibly of his book； and； with a playful little shriek； ran away with it into the next room； hugging it to her bosom and looking back roguishly over her shoulder at him as she ran。 There was an awful pause。 We hardly dared raise our eyes。 Then the Mall of Wrath got up slowly； knocked the ashes off the end of his cigar； looked at his watch； and went out at the opposite door into his own rooms； where he stayed for the rest of the evening。 She has never； I must say； been skittish since。
〃I hope you are listening； Miss Minora；〃 said Irais； 〃because this sort of conversation is likely to do you good。〃
〃I always listen when people talk sensibly；〃 replied Minora； stirring her grog。
Irais glanced at her with slightly doubtful eyebrows。 〃Do you agree with our hostess's description of women？〃 she asked after a pause。
〃As nobodies？ No； of course I do not。〃
〃Yet she is right。 In the eye of the law we are literally nobodies in our country。 Did you know that women are forbidden to go to political meetings here？〃 〃Really？〃 Out came the note…book。
〃The law expressly forbids the attendance at such meetings of women； children； and idiots。〃
〃Children and idiotsI understand that；〃 said Minora； 〃but women and classed with children and idiots？〃
〃Classed with children and idiots；〃 repeated Irais； gravely nodding her head。 〃Did you know that the law forbids females of any age to ride on the top of omnibuses or tramcars？〃
〃Not really？〃
〃Do you know why？〃
〃I can't imagine。〃
〃Because in going up and down the stairs those inside might perhaps catch a glimpse of the stocking covering their ankles。〃
〃But what〃
〃Did you know that the morals of the German public are in such a shaky condition that a glimpse of that sort would be fatal to them？ 〃
〃But I don't see how a stocking〃
〃With stripes round it；〃 said Irais。
〃And darns in it；〃 I added。
could possibly be pernicious？ 〃
〃'The Pernicious Stocking； or； Thoughts on the Ethics of Petticoats；'〃 said Irais。 〃Put that down as the name of your next book on Germany。〃
〃I never know；〃 complained Minora； letting her note…book fall； 〃whether you are in earnest or not。〃
〃Don't you？〃 said Irais sweetly。
〃Is it true；〃 appealed Minora to the Man of Wrath； busy with his lemons in the background； 〃that your law classes women with children and idiots？〃
〃Certainly；〃 he answered promptly； 〃and a very proper classification； too。〃
We all looked blank。 〃That's rude；〃 said I at last。
〃Truth is always rude； my dear；〃 he replied complacently。 Then he added； 〃If I were commissioned to draw up a new legal code； and had previously enjoyed the privilege； as I have been doing lately； of listening to the conversation of you three young ladies； I should make precisely the same classification。〃
Even Minora was incensed at this。
〃You are telling us in the most unvarnished manner that we are idiots；〃 said Irais。
〃Idiots？ No； no； by no means。 But childre