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electric tramcars。 I wanted to see the town； so I stood outside on
the little platformwhat do you call it？〃
〃The Stehplatz；〃 I suggested。
〃That's it；〃 said Harris。 〃Well； you know the way they shake you
about； and how you have to look out for the corners； and mind
yourself when they stop and when they start？〃
I nodded。
〃There were about half a dozen of us standing there；〃 he continued；
〃and； of course； I am not experienced。 The thing started suddenly；
and that jerked me backwards。 I fell against a stout gentleman；
just behind me。 He could not have been standing very firmly
himself； and he； in his turn； fell back against a boy who was
carrying a trumpet in a green baize case。 They never smiled；
neither the man nor the boy with the trumpet； they just stood there
and looked sulky。 I was going to say I was sorry； but before I
could get the words out the tram eased up； for some reason or
other； and that； of course； shot me forward again； and I butted
into a white…haired old chap； who looked to me like a professor。
Well； HE never smiled； never moved a muscle。〃
〃Maybe； he was thinking of something else；〃 I suggested。
〃That could not have been the case with them all；〃 replied Harris；
〃and in the course of that journey； I must have fallen against
every one of them at least three times。 You see；〃 explained
Harris； 〃they knew when the corners were coming； and in which
direction to brace themselves。 I； as a stranger； was naturally at
a disadvantage。 The way I rolled and staggered about that
platform； clutching wildly now at this man and now at that； must
have been really comic。 I don't say it was high…class humour； but
it would have amused most people。 Those Germans seemed to see no
fun in it whateverjust seemed anxious； that was all。 There was
one man； a little man； who stood with his back against the brake； I
fell against him five times； I counted them。 You would have
expected the fifth time would have dragged a laugh out of him； but
it didn't； he merely looked tired。 They are a dull lot。〃
George also had an adventure at Dresden。 There was a shop near the
Altmarkt； in the window of which were exhibited some cushions for
sale。 The proper business of the shop was handling of glass and
china； the cushions appeared to be in the nature of an experiment。
They were very beautiful cushions； hand…embroidered on satin。 We
often passed the shop； and every time George paused and examined
those cushions。 He said he thought his aunt would like one。
George has been very attentive to this aunt of his during the
journey。 He has written her quite a long letter every day； and
from every town we stop at he sends her off a present。 To my mind；
he is overdoing the business； and more than once I have
expostulated with him。 His aunt will be meeting other aunts； and
talking to them； the whole class will become disorganised and
unruly。 As a nephew； I object to the impossible standard that
George is setting up。 But he will not listen。
Therefore it was that on the Saturday he left us after lunch；
saying he would go round to that shop and get one of those cushions
for his aunt。 He said he would not be long； and suggested our
waiting for him。
We waited for what seemed to me rather a long time。 When he
rejoined us he was empty handed； and looked worried。 We asked him
where his cushion was。 He said he hadn't got a cushion； said he
had changed his mind； said he didn't think his aunt would care for
a cushion。 Evidently something was amiss。 We tried to get at the
bottom of it； but he was not communicative。 Indeed； his answers
after our twentieth question or thereabouts became quite short。
In the evening； however； when he and I happened to be alone； he
broached the subject himself。 He said：
〃They are somewhat peculiar in some things； these Germans。〃
I said： 〃What has happened？〃
〃Well；〃 he answered； 〃there was that cushion I wanted。〃
〃For your aunt；〃 I remarked。
〃Why not？〃 he returned。 He was huffy in a moment； I never knew a
man so touchy about an aunt。 〃Why shouldn't I send a cushion to my
aunt？〃
〃Don't get excited；〃 I replied。 〃I am not objecting； I respect you
for it。〃
He recovered his temper； and went on：
〃There were four in the window； if you remember； all very much
alike； and each one labelled in plain figures twenty marks。 I
don't pretend to speak German fluently； but I can generally make
myself understood with a little effort； and gather the sense of
what is said to me； provided they don't gabble。 I went into the
shop。 A young girl came up to me； she was a pretty； quiet little
soul； one might almost say； demure； not at all the sort of girl
from whom you would have expected such a thing。 I was never more
surprised in all my life。〃
〃Surprised about what？〃 I said。
George always assumes you know the end of the story while he is
telling you the beginning； it is an annoying method。
〃At what happened；〃 replied George； 〃at what I am telling you。 She
smiled and asked me what I wanted。 I understood that all right；
there could have been no mistake about that。 I put down a twenty
mark piece on the counter and said：
〃Please give me a cushion。〃
〃She stared at me as if I had asked for a feather bed。 I thought；
maybe； she had not heard； so I repeated it louder。 If I had
chucked her under the chin she could not have looked more surprised
or indignant。
〃She said she thought I must be making a mistake。
〃I did not want to begin a long conversation and find myself
stranded。 I said there was no mistake。 I pointed to my twenty
mark piece； and repeated for the third time that I wanted a
cushion； 'a twenty mark cushion。'
〃Another girl came up； an elder girl； and the first girl repeated
to her what I had just said： she seemed quite excited about it。
The second girl did not believe herdid not think I looked the
sort of man who would want a cushion。 To make sure； she put the
question to me herself。
〃'Did you say you wanted a cushion？' she asked。
〃'I have said it three times；' I answered。 'I will say it againI
want a cushion。'
〃She said： 'Then you can't have one。'
〃I was getting angry by this time。 If I hadn't really wanted the
thing I should have walked out of the shop； but there the cushions
were in the window； evidently for sale。 I didn't see WHY I
couldn't have one。
〃I said： 'I will have one！' It is a simple sentence。 I said it
with determination。
〃A third girl came up at this point； the three representing； I
fancy； the whole force of the shop。 She was a bright…eyed； saucy…
looking little wench； this last one。 On any other occasion I might
have been pleased to see her； now； her coming only irritated me。 I
didn't see the need of three girls for this business。
〃The first two girls started explaining the thing to the third
girl； and before they were half…way through the third girl began to
giggleshe was the sort of girl who would giggle at anything。
That done； they fell to chattering like Jenny Wrens； all three
together； and between every half…dozen words they looked across at
me； and the more they looked at me the more the third girl giggled；
and b