eas. The girls
would not leave Frau Doktor alone, and they all wanted to walk home with
her. Then she said: "My darling girls, that's impossible, for I am going
to Purkersdorf to see my parents." And then Hella had her splendid
idea. The others said: "Please may we come with you as far as the
metropolitan?" and at length she said they might. But Hella said, "Come
along," and we hurried off to the metropolitan before them and took
tickets to Hutteldorf so that we should be able to get back in plenty of
time, and there we were waiting on the platform when she came and when
all the girls came with her as far as the entrance. Then we rushed up
to her and got into the train which came in at that moment. Of course we
had second class tickets, for Hella, being an officer's daughter, mayn't
travel third, and Frau Doktor M. always travels second too. And we all
three sat together on a seat for two, though it was frightfully hot.
She was so nice to us; I begged her to give us her photograph and she
promised to send us one. Then, alas, we got to Hutteldorf. "Now, girls,
you must get out." Then we both burst out crying, and she _kissed us!_
Never shall I forget that blessed moment and that heavenly ride! As long
as the train was still in sight we both waved our handkerchiefs to her
and she _waved back!_ When we wanted to give up our tickets Hella looked
everywhere for her purse and could not find it; she must have left it in
the ticket office. Luckily I still had all my July pocket money and so I
was able to pay the excess fare, and then for once in a way _I_ was the
sharp-witted one; I said we had travelled third and had only passed
out through the second, so we had not to pay so much; and no one knew
anything about it, there's no harm in that sort of cheating. Of course
we really did go back third, although Hella said it would spoil the
memory for her. That sort of thing does not matter to me. We did not
get home until a quarter past 1, and Aunt Dora gave me a tremendous
scolding. I said I had been arranging books in the library for Frau
Doktor, but Dora had enquired at the High School at 12, and there had
been no one there. We had already gone away then, I said, and had gone
part of the way with Frau Doktor M., for she was leaving because of
her marriage. Then Dora was quite astonished and said: "Ah, now I
understand." The other day when she had to go into the room while the
staff meeting was on, the staff was talking about an eng