body makes soup like her--my bit of good roast meat, my pint of
wine, my coffee--with four beans she makes better coffee than any one
else can with a pound--and yet it has happened to me a thousand times
to have to sing this song to the fellow sitting here: You are the most
ungrateful fellow in the world, to be cross as you often are, and wish
for this and that which you have not. Only look round you; see how nice
and neat everything is,--good bread, a good arm-chair, a good pipe and
so much good rest,--you are the happiest man in the world to have
all this. Yes, my dear comrade, you may be deucedly learned--I beg
pardon--I mean, you may be very learned--look you--I never studied, I
never learned anything, I was a drummer--I'll tell you about it
sometime--yes, comrade--what was I saying? ah, that's it, you know a
thousand times more than I do, but one thing you can learn of me. Make
the best of life; now's the time, be happy now, enjoy yourself now,
this hour won't come back again. Don't always be thinking about
to-morrow. Just draw a long breath, comrade--there, what sort of air is
that? is there better anywhere?--and then we have our nice, clean
clothes on!--Ah, thank the Builder of all the worlds!--Yes, comrade, if
I had had any one, when I was your age, to tell me what I'm telling
you--Pooh, pooh!--What an old talker I am--I'm glad you've come to
see me!--Well, how do you get on? Are you really going to drill our
boy? I think you are the right man to do it, you will bring him into
line--you know, comrade, what that means--only a soldier can do that.
Only a soldier can school men. Nothing but strict discipline!--I'll
warrant, he'll come out right--he'll do well--Fraeulein Milch has always
said, 'He'll come out right, if he only falls into the right hands.'
The school-masters are all of no use; Herr Knopf was very worthy and
good-hearted, but he didn't hold the reins tight. Thank the Builder of
all the worlds, now it's all right!--Thank you for coming to see me. If
I can help you, remember that we are comrades. It's very fortunate that
you have been a soldier. I have always wished--Fraeulein Milch can
testify that I've said a hundred times, none but a soldier will
do!--Now let us make a soldier of Roland, a true soldier, he has
courage, he only wants the training!"

"I should like," answered Eric, "if I really have the position--"

"Really have the position? There's no doubt about it, I tell you--Pooh,
pooh; I'll wag