Bible and asked him what _with child_ meant. That's what they say of
Mary in the Bible. The Schrotter girl does not know anything yet and the
other girls egged her on till she went and asked. The Herr Professor got
quite red and said: If you don't know yet it does not matter. We shall
come to that later, we're still in the Old Testament. I was so glad
that Hella does not sit next me in the religion lesson, because she's
a Protestant; we should certainly have both burst out laughing. Some
of the girls giggled frightfully and the Herr Professor said to Lisel:
You're a good girl, don't bother about the others. But Lisel positively
howled. I would not have asked, even if I hadn't really known. _With
child_ is a stupid word anyhow, it doesn't mean anything really; only if
one knows.

November 22nd. When I was coming away from the religion lesson with
Berta Franke the other day, of course we began talking about _it_. She
says that's why people marry, only because of _it_. I said I could not
believe that people marry only for _that_. Lots of people marry and then
have no children. That's all right said Berta, but it's quite true what
I tell you. Then she told me a lot more but I really can't write it
all down. It is too horrid, but I shan't forget. When I was sitting
on Mother's bed to-day I suddenly realised that Father's bed is really
quite close to Mother's. I had never thought about it before. But it's
not really necessary now for we are all quite big. Still I suppose
they've just left things as they were. Well dear, said Mother, what are
you looking round so for? Of course I didn't let on, but said: I was
only looking round and thinking that if your bed was where the washstand
is you could see to read better when you are lying in bed. That would
not do because the wall's all wrong said Mother. I said nothing more and
she didn't either. I like much better to sleep on a sofa than in a bed,
because I like to snuggle up against the back. I'm so glad Mother