Capt.  Stamm  :  What  the  devil  is  the  matter  with  tht
boy?  We  don't  see  him,  we  don't  hear  from  him
lately.  You  know,  Triene,  I  don't  like  this  French
business.  Why  didn't  the  boy  stay  here  or  go  to
Berlin,  if  you  please?  If  he  is  an  artist,  we  have  as
good  colleges  and  art  schools  here  as  they  have  in
Paris  or  anywhere  else.  I  want  him  to  become  a
good  German,  and  not  have  him  imbued  with
Parisian  mannerisms  and  notions.
Mrs.  Stamm  :    But,  Father— —

Capt.  Stamm  (interrupting)  :  Yes,  I  know  you  Lor-
rainiens  don't  feel  that  way.  I  don't  blame  you  who
are  born  under  French  rule,  but  my  children  are
born  Germans,  and  Germans  they  will  remain  to  the
end  of  their  existence.
Mrs.  Stamm  :  But  Constance?

Capt.  Stamm:  Constance!  always  Sister  Constance.  He
is  our  boy  and  should  be  home.
Mrs.  Stamm  :  Now,  father,  be  reasonable.  Sister  Con-
stance is  rich,  while  we  have  only  enough  to  secure
a  dowery  for  our  Eva.  Constance  promised  to  look
out  for  our  boy  and  make  him  her  heir  if  we  sent
him  to  Paris.  She  has  done  well  by  him ;  he  likes
her  home.  You  would  not  spoil  the  future  of  your
child?

Capt.  Stamm  :  Well,  have  it  your  way,  but  he  will  have
to  return  soon  to  serve  his  time  in  the  army.     (Bn-


16


ter  Eva,  carrying  dish.)     Well,  Eva,  how  are  the
eggs?

Eva:  Just  as  you  like  them,  Pa,  but  I  had  to  pull  the
cook's  hair  to  rescue  them.
