Ma said nothing, but just sighed deeply and went out again.

“You can’t,” I said. “Don’t be stupid. She’s worrying herself sick over you—and where are you going to hide? In the stables? In the cellar? You’d never stay in one place for long enough! You’d stick your silly face out of the window to say hello to Rudi or Hansi and blow kisses to Hannerl, and then you’d want your musket to practice with, and then you’d want to go outside just to stretch your legs and you’d forget and come back through the parlor and stop and say hello to the customers—I know you, Peter! You’re just irresponsible!”

“And you’re middle-aged,” he grumbled. “Born old, you were. Nag, nag, nag…And it just shows how much you know, because shall I tell you what I’m going to do? I’m going to stay down in the cellar and do nothing for three days but clean my musket and think hard about that target. I’m going to do some exercises too, to strengthen my arms and make them even steadier. I’ve got me heart set on that contest, Hildi. I’m going to win it. You think I’m irresponsible….But there’s a part of me inside that can concentrate harder’n you can imagine. All still and cold, and deeper than a forest lake…And that part of me’s where I shoot from. When I’m shooting for that prize, I’m going to be stiller than the mountain—you’ll see. You don’t know me, Hildi, you don’t know me at all….”

Of course I knew him, silly brute. But I was impressed all the same. He’d never talked to me like that before; he sounded quiet and serious, and I thought: perhaps he can win the contest, at that. But it wouldn’t have done to say so.

“If you’re going to hide in the cellar, you’d better get on down. And if I hear from Ma that you’ve caused her any trouble, I promise I’ll go and get Sergeant Snitsch myself and give you up. She wouldn’t do it, because she’s too soft. But I won’t think twice about it, I warn you.”

“Yes, ma’am,” was all he said; and he took his musket from the wall and went down the steps into the cellar like a choirboy going to Mass.

I finished the pastry and rolled it out and then I had to hurry back. Before I went, I told Ma what he’d said, quietly, in a corner of the parlor so as not to be overheard.