"Herr has been to the great city?"
B---- is the greatest city in the world to the provincial.
"Yes," said I; "but you remind me of no one I ever saw there."
She plucked a leaf from the rose she wore and began nibbling at it.
Her mouth was smaller than the one belonging to Phyllis.
"The person to whom I refer," I went on, "lives in America, where your
compatriots brew fine beer and wax rich."
"Ah, Herr is an American? I like Americans," archly. "They are so
liberal."
I laughed, but I did not tell her why. All foreigners have a great
love of Americans--"They are so liberal."
"So you find Americans liberal? Is it with money or with compliments?"
Said Gretchen: "The one when they haven't the other."
A very bright barmaid, thought I.
Then I said: "Is this your home?"
"Yes," said Gretchen. "I was born here and I have tended the roses for
ever so long."
"I have heard of Gretchen of the steins, but I never before heard of a
Gretchen of the roses."
"Herr must have a large store of compliments on hand to begin this
early."
"It is a part of my capital," said I. "Once in Switzerland I
complimented an innkeeper, and when my bill was presented I found that
all extras had been crossed off."
Gretchen laughed. It was a low laugh, a laugh which appeared to me as
having been aroused not at what I had said, but at something which had
recurred to her. I wanted to hear it again.
So I said: "I suppose you have a stein here from which the King has
drunk; all taverns and inns have them."
Gretchen only smiled, but the smile was worth something.
"No; the King has never been within five miles of this inn."
"So much the worse for the King."
"And why that?"
"The King has missed seeing Gretchen."
It was then Gretchen laughed.
"I have never heard compliments like Herr's before."
"Why, I have any amount of them. I'll drink half a litre to your
health."
She filled one of the old blue earthen steins.
"I haven't seen your roses in the gardens, but I'll drink to those in
your cheeks," said I, and I drew back the pewter lid.
"How long does Herr intend to stay?" asked Gretchen.