g she
was not for if she had been she would have burst out laughing. But I
fancy if she'd seen what we saw she would have found there was nothing
to laugh at.

June 7th. It's frightfully dull after dinner and in the evening before
bed time, especially because this year, since the affair at the front
door, Dora and I have always had plenty to talk about. I miss it. I wish
Hella would come and stay with us for the 4 weeks. But she does not want
to. Father had work to do to-day, so I'm quite alone and feel as if I'd
like to cry.

June 9th. Yesterday, when I was feeling so melancholy, Resi came to make
my bed, and we talked about the married couple opposite, and then she
told me awful things about a young married couple where she was once.
She left because they always went into the bath together; she says she's
certain that _something happened_ there. And then she told me about an
old gentleman who made _advances_ to her; but of course she would not
have anything to do with him; besides he was married, and anyhow he
would never have married a servant for he was a privy councillor.
Yesterday Father said: Poor little witch, it's very lonely for you now;
but look here, Resi is no fit company for you; when your little tongue
wants to wag, come to my room. And I was awfully stupid, I began to cry
like anything and said. "Father, please don't be angry, I'll never think
and never talk of such things any more." Father did not know at first
what I meant, but afterwards it must have struck him, for he was so kind
and gentle, and said: "No, no, Gretel, don't corrupt your youth with
such matters, and when there's anything that bothers you, ask Mother,
but not the servants. A girl of good family must not be too familiar
with servants. Promise me." And then, though I'm so big he took me on
his knee like a child and petted me because I was crying so. "It's all
right, little Mouse, don't worry, you must not get so nervous as Dora.
Give me a nice kiss, and then I'll come with you to your room and stay
with you till you go to sleep." Of course I stayed awake on purpose as
long as I could, till a quarter to 11.

And then I dreamed that Father was lying in Dora's bed so that when I
woke up early in the morning I really looked across to see if he had not
gone to bed there. But of course I'd only dreamed it.

June 12th. To-morrow there's a great school excursion; I am so glad, a
whole day with Frau Doktor M. and without any lessons. We are g