``That's right!'' he retorted with mock scorn. ``Defend your
children! You'll be excusing Hilda for putting off Heilig
next.''

``She'll marry him--give her time,'' said Mrs. Brauner. ``She's
romantic, but she's sensible, too--why, she was born to make a
good wife to a hard-working man. Where's there another woman
that knows the business as she does? You admit on her birthdays
that she's the only real helper you ever had.''

``Except you,'' said her husband.

``Never mind me.'' Mrs. Brauner pretended to disdain the
compliment.

Brauner understood, however. ``We have had the best, you and
I,'' said he.

``Arbeit und Liebe und Heim. Nicht wahr?'' Otto Heilig appeared
in his doorway and greeted them awkwardly. Nor did their
cordiality lessen his embarrassment. His pink and white skin was
rosy red and his frank blue-gray eyes shifted uneasily. But he
was smiling with eager friendliness, showing even, sound, white
teeth.

``You are coming to see us to-morrow?'' asked Mrs. Brauner--he
always called on Sunday afternoons and stayed until five, when he
had to open shop for the Sunday supper rush.