women love to suppose they hunger. Rather I saw myself pushing a
perambulator up the gangway, and counting up the missing buttons on my
husband's uniform jacket.

"Handfuls of babies, that is what you are really in need of," mused Frau
Fischer. "Then, as the father of a family he cannot leave you. Think of
his delight and excitement when he saw you!"

The plan seemed to me something of a risk. To appear suddenly with
handfuls of strange babies is not generally calculated to raise enthusiasm
in the heart of the average British husband. I decided to wreck my virgin
conception and send him down somewhere off Cape Horn.

Then the dinner-gong sounded.

"Come up to my room afterwards," said Frau Fischer. "There is still much
that I must ask you."

She squeezed my hand, but I did not squeeze back.



5. FRAU BRECHENMACHER ATTENDS A WEDDING.

Getting ready was a terrible business. After supper Frau Brechenmacher
packed four of the five babies to bed, allowing Rosa to stay with her and
help to polish the buttons of Herr Brechenmacher's uniform. Then she ran
over his best shirt with a hot iron, polished his boots, and put a stitch
or two into his black satin necktie.