the angel and the author-第22章
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Apparently she has disappeared。 You find that she is reaching round
behind you to tap a new arrival with her fan。
＇She has the Art of Listening。＇
Now； the American girl looks at you； and just listens to you with her
eyes fixed on you all the time。 You gather that； as far as she is
concerned； the rest of the company are passing shadows。 She wants to
hear what you have to say about Bi…metallism： her trouble is lest
she may miss a word of it。 From a talk with an American girl one
comes away with the conviction that one is a brilliant
conversationalist； who can hold a charming woman spell…bound。 This
may not be good for one： but while it lasts； the sensation is
pleasant。
Even the American girl cannot； on all occasions； sweep from her path
the cobwebs of old…world etiquette。 Two American ladies told me a
sad tale of things that had happened to them not long ago in Dresden。
An officer of rank and standing invited them to breakfast with him on
the ice。 Dames and nobles of the plus haut ton would be there。 It
is a social function that occurs every Sunday morning in Dresden
during the skating season。 The great lake in the Grosser Garten is
covered with all sorts and conditions of people。 Prince and commoner
circle and recircle round one another。 But they do not mix。 The
girls were pleased。 They secured the services of an elderly lady；
the widow of an analytical chemist： unfortunately； she could not
skate。 They wrapped her up and put her in a sledge。 While they were
in the garde robe putting on their skates； a German gentleman came up
and bowed to them。
He was a nice young man of prepossessing appearance and amiable
manners。 They could not call to mind his name； but remembered having
met him； somewhere； and on more than one occasion。 The American girl
is always sociable： they bowed and smiled； and said it was a fine
day。 He replied with volubility； and helped them down on to the ice。
He was really most attentive。 They saw their friend； the officer of
noble family； and； with the assistance of the German gentleman；
skated towards him。 He glided past them。 They thought that maybe he
did not know enough to stop； so they turned and skated after him。
They chased him three times round the pond and then； feeling tired；
eased up and took counsel together。
〃I'm sure he must have seen us；〃 said the younger girl。 〃What does
he mean by it？〃
〃Well； I have not come down here to play forfeits；〃 said the other；
〃added to which I want my breakfast。 You wait here a minute； I'll go
and have it out with him。〃
He was standing only a dozen yards away。 Alone； though not a good
performer on the ice； she contrived to cover half the distance
dividing them。 The officer； perceiving her； came to her assistance
and greeted her with effusion。
＇The Republican Idea in practice。＇
〃Oh；〃 said the lady； who was feeling indignant； 〃I thought maybe you
had left your glasses at home。〃
〃I am sorry；〃 said the officer； 〃but it is impossible。〃
〃What's impossible？〃 demanded the lady。
〃That I can be seen speaking to you；〃 declared the officer； 〃while
you are in company with thatthat person。〃
〃What person？〃 She thought maybe he was alluding to the lady in the
sledge。 The chaperon was not showy； but； what is better； she was
good。 And； anyhow； it was the best the girls had been able to do。
So far as they were concerned； they had no use for a chaperon。 The
idea had been a thoughtful concession to European prejudice。
〃The person in knickerbockers；〃 explained the officer。
〃Oh； THAT；〃 exclaimed the lady； relieved： 〃he just came up and made
himself agreeable while we were putting on our skates。 We have met
him somewhere； but I can't exactly fix him for the moment。〃
〃You have met him possibly at Wiesman's； in the Pragerstrasse： he is
one of the attendants there；〃 said the officer。
The American girl is Republican in her ideas； but she draws the line
at hairdressers。 In theory it is absurd： the hairdresser is a man
and a brother： but we are none of us logical all the way。 It made
her mad； the thought that she had been seen by all Dresden Society
skating with a hairdresser。
〃Well；〃 she said； 〃I do call that impudence。 Why； they wouldn't do
that even in Chicago。〃
And she returned to where the hairdresser was illustrating to her
friend the Dutch roll； determined to explain to him； as politely as
possible； that although the free and enlightened Westerner has
abolished social distinctions； he has not yet abolished them to that
extent。
Had he been a commonplace German hairdresser he would have understood
English； and all might have been easy。 But to the 〃classy〃 German
hairdresser； English is not so necessary； and the American ladies had
reached； as regards their German； only the 〃improving〃 stage。 In her
excitement she confused the subjunctive and the imperative； and told
him that he 〃might〃 go。 He had no wish to go； he assured themso
they gatheredthat his intention was to devote the morning to their
service。 He must have been a stupid man； but it is a type
occasionally encountered。 Two pretty women had greeted his advances
with apparent delight。 They were Americans； and the American girl
was notoriously unconventional。 He knew himself to be a good…looking
young fellow。 It did not occur to him that in expressing willingness
to dispense with his attendance they could be in earnest。
There was nothing for it； so it seemed to the girls； but to request
the assistance of the officer； who continued to skate round and round
them at a distance of about ten yards。 So again the elder young
lady； seizing her opportunity； made appeal。
＇What the Soldier dared not do。＇
〃I cannot；〃 persisted the officer； who； having been looking forward
to a morning with two of the prettiest girls in Dresden； was also
feeling mad。 〃I dare not be seen speaking to a hairdresser。 You
must get rid of him。〃
〃But we can't；〃 said the girl。 〃We do not know enough German； and he
can't； or he won't； understand us。 For goodness sake come and help
us。 We'll be spending the whole morning with him if you don't。〃
The German officer said he was desolate。 Steps would be takenlater
in the weekthe result of which would probably be to render that
young hairdresser prematurely bald。 But； meanwhile； beyond skating
round and round them； for which they did not even feel they wanted to
thank him； the German officer could do nothing for them。 They tried
being rude to the hairdresser： he mistook it for American chic。
They tried joining hands and running away from him； but they were not
good skaters； and he thought they were trying to show him the cake
walk。 They both fell down and hurt themselves； and it is difficult
to be angry with a man； even a hairdresser； when he is doing his best
to pick you up and comfort you。
The chaperon was worse than useless。 She was very old。 She had been
promised her breakfast； but saw no signs of it。 She could not speak
German； and remembered somewhat late in the day that two young ladies
had no business to accept breakfast at the hands of German officers：
and； if they did； at least they might see that they got it。 She
appeared to be willing to talk about decadence of modern manners to
almost any extent； but the subject of the hairdresser； and how to get
rid of him； only bored her。
Their first stroke of luck occurred when the hairdresser； showing
them the 〃dropped three；〃 fell down and temporarily stunned himself。
It was not kind of them； but they were desperate。 They flew for the
bank just anyhow； and； scrambling over the grass； gained the
restaurant。 The officer； overtaking them at the door； led them to
the table that had been reserved for them； then hastened back to hunt
for the chaperon。 The girls thought their trouble was over。 Had
they glanced behind them their joy would have been shorter…lived than
even was the case。 The hairdresser had recovered consciousness in
time to see them waddling over the grass。 He thought they were
running to fetch him brandy。 When the officer
