e in trouble.

Lena did not care much to get married. She liked her life very well
where she was working. She did not think much about Herman Kreder. She
thought he was a good man and she always found him very quiet. Neither
of them ever spoke much to the other. Lena did not care much just then
about getting married.

Mrs. Haydon spoke to Lena about it very often. Lena never answered
anything at all. Mrs. Haydon thought, perhaps Lena did not like Herman
Kreder. Mrs. Haydon could not believe that any girl not even Lena,
really had no feeling about getting married.

Mrs. Haydon spoke to Lena very often about Herman. Mrs. Haydon
sometimes got very angry with Lena. She was afraid that Lena, for
once, was going to be stubborn, now when it was all fixed right for
her to be married.

"Why you stand there so stupid, why don't you answer, Lena," said Mrs.
Haydon one Sunday, at the end of a long talking that she was giving
Lena about Herman Kreder, and about Lena's getting married to him.

"Yes ma'am," said Lena, and then Mrs. Haydon was furious with this
stupid Lena. "Why don't you answer with some sense, Lena, when I ask
you if you don't like Herman Kreder. You stand there so stupid and
don't answer just like you ain't heard a word what I been saying to
you. I never see anybody like you, Lena. If you going to burst out at
all, why don't you burst out sudden instead of standing there so silly
and don't answer. And here I am so good to you, and find you a good
husband so you can have a place to live in all your own. Answer me,
Lena, don't you like Herman Kreder? He is a fine young fellow, almost
too good for you, Lena, when you stand there so stupid and don't make
no answer. There ain't many poor girls that get the chance you got now
to get married."

"Why, I do anything you say, Aunt Mathilda. Yes, I like him. He don't
say much to me, but I guess he is a good man, and I do anything you
say for me to do."

"Well then Lena, why you stand there so silly all the time and not
answer when I asked you."

"I didn't hear you say you wanted I should say anything to you. I
didn't know you wanted me to say nothing. I do whatever you tell me
it's right for me to do. I marry Herman Kreder, if you want me."

And so for Lena Mainz the match was made.

Old Mrs. Kreder did not discuss the matter with her Herman. She never
thought that she needed to talk such things over with him. She just
told him about getting married to Lena Mainz