Jean knew of some more cows, in a field somewhere, and took my hand and led me thitherward.

When we turned the corner and took the right-hand road, I saw that we should presently be out of range of call and sight; so I began to argue against continuing the expedition, and Jean began to argue in favor of it--she using English for light skirmishing, and German for "business." I kept up my end with vigor, and demolished her arguments in detail, one after the other, till I judged I had her about cornered.

She hesitated a moment, then answered up sharply: "_Wir werden nichts mehr darueber sprechen!_" (We won't talk any more about it!) It nearly took my breath away; though I thought I might possibly have misunderstood.

I said: "Why, you little rascal! _Was hast du gesagt ?_" But she said the same words over again, and in the same decided way.

I suppose I ought to have been outraged; but I wasn't, I was charmed.