he dandled these treasures before Theresa the hot room seemed to heave and
sway with laughter.

Frau Brechenmacher did not think it funny. She stared round at the
laughing faces, and suddenly they all seemed strange to her. She wanted to
go home and never come out again. She imagined that all these people were
laughing at her, more people than there were in the room even--all laughing
at her because they were so much stronger than she was.

...
They walked home in silence. Herr Brechenmacher strode ahead, she stumbled
after him. White and forsaken lay the road from the railway station to
their house--a cold rush of wind blew her hood from her face, and suddenly
she remembered how they had come home together the first night. Now they
had five babies and twice as much money; BUT--

"Na, what is it all for?" she muttered, and not until she had reached home,
and prepared a little supper of meat and bread for her man did she stop
asking herself that silly question.

Herr Brechenmacher broke the bread into his plate, smeared it round with
his fork and chewed greedily.

"Good?" she asked, leaning her arms on the table and pillowing her breast
against them.

"But fine!"

He took a piece of the crumb, wiped it round his plate edge, and held it up
to her mouth. She shook her head.