I thought that rather funny.  Especially after two hours in the morning with Kloster, who explained that the Government is arranging everything that is happening, managing public opinion, creating the exact amount of enthusiasm and aggressiveness it wishes to have behind it, just as it did in 1870 when it wanted to bring about the war with France.  I know it isn’t proper for a junges Madchen to talk at dinner unless she is asked a question, and I know she mustn’t have an opinion about anything except bonbons and flowers, and I also know that a junges Madchen who is betrothed is expected to show on all occasions such extreme modesty, such a continuous downcast eye, that it almost amounts to being ashamed of herself; yet I couldn’t resist leaning across the table to the man who said that, a high official in the Ministerium des Innern, and saying “But your public is so disciplined and your Government so almighty—­” and was going on to ask him what grounds he had for his fears that a public in that condition would force the Government’s hand, for I was interested and wanted dreadfully to hear what he would say, when the Grafin slipped in, smiling gently.

“My dear new niece,” she said, looking round the table at everybody, “promises to become a most excellent little German.  See how she already recognizes and admires our restraint on the one hand, and on the other, our power.”

The Colonel, who was sitting on one side of me, laughed, raised his glass, and begged me to permit him to drink my health and the health of that luckiest of young men, Lieutenant von Inster.  “Old England forever!” he exclaimed, bowing over his glass to me, “The England that raises such fair flowers and allows Germany to pluck them.  Long may she continue these altruistic activities.  Long may the homes of Germany be decorated with England’s fairest products.”

By this time he was on his feet, and they were toasting England and me.  They were all quite enthusiastic, and I felt so proud and pleased, with Bernd sitting beside me looking so proud and pleased.  “England!” they called out, lifting their glasses, “England and the new alliance!” And they bowed and smiled to me, and came round one by one and clinked their glasses against mine.

Then Bernd had to make a little speech and thank the Colonel, and you can’t think how beautifully he speaks, and not a bit shy, and saying exactly the right things.  Then the Graf actually got up and said something—­I expect etiquette forced him to or he never would have—­but once he was in for it he did it with the same unfaltering fluency and appropriateness that Bernd had surprised me with.  He said they—­the Koseritzes and Insters—­welcomed the proposed marriage between Bernd and myself, not alone for the many graces, virtues, and, above all gifts—­(picture the abstracted Graf reeling off these compliments!  You should have seen my open mouth)—­that so happily adorned the young lady, great and numerous