When the guests left, Philippina came in and cleaned up the room.
Dorothea sat on the sofa. Her hands were lying in her lap; she was
unusually serious.
"Why don't your American ever come to see us?" asked Philippina, without
apparent motive.
Dorothea was terrified. "Lock the door, Philippina," she whispered, "I
have something to tell you."
Philippina locked the door, and went over to the sofa. "The American has
to see me," continued Dorothea, as her eyes roamed about the room in
timid waywardness. "He says he wants to talk to me about something that
will be of very great importance to me the rest of my life. He is living
in a hotel, but I can't go to a hotel. It will not do to have him come
here, nor do I wish to be seen on the street with him. He has suggested
a place where we might meet, but I am afraid: I do not know the people.
Can't you help me out, Philippina? Don't you know some one to whom we
can go and in whose house we can meet?"
Philippina's eyes shone with their veteran glitter. She thought for a
second or two, and then replied: "Oh, yes, I'll tell you what you can
do. Go down to Frau Hadebusch's! She's a good friend of mine, and you
c'n depend on her. It don't make no difference what takes place in her
house; it won't bother even the cat. You know Frau Hadebusch! Of course
you do. What am I talking about! She is a widow, and lives all alone in
a little house. She won't rent; she says she don't want the trouble. You
know she's no young woman any more. She is all alone, mind you. No one
there but her son, and he's cracked. Honest, the boy ain't right."
"Well, you go and talk it over with Frau Hadebusch, Philippina," said
Dorothea timidly.
"Very well, I'll go see her to-morrow morning," replied Philippina,
smiled subserviently, and laid her horny hand on Dorothea's tender
shoulder.
"But listen, Philippina, be very, very careful. Do you hear?" Dorothea's
eyes became big and threatening. "Swear that you will be as silent as
the tombs."
"As true as I'm standing here!" said Philippina. Just then she bent over
to pick up a hair pin from the floor.
The next morning Philippina ran over to Frau Hadebusch's. The whole way
she kept humming to herself; she was happy; she was contented.