THE OPPERMANNS controlled hirnself. "I see," he contented himself with saying, as quietIy as the other. "You are a good German, are you? Weil, will you be so good as to leave it to others to decide who is a good German and who is not? A good German, in- deed." He gave a scornful snort. And then, at last, he carne out of his corner, but not quietly. Every step was loud and firm. He carne straight up to Berthold. Then he faced hirn, eye to eye. Before the tensely silent class, amidst breathless ex- citement, with simulated calm and moderation, he inquired : "Will you, at least, apologize for what you have said, Opper- mann?" Berthold, for the fraction of a second, had also thought of apologizing. He had said something he had not intended say- ing. He had said it in an unconcentrated moment and in a crude and unfortunate manner, Why not admit it? Then the whole matter would be settled, he could finish his lecture and everyone would be bound to see that he was a good German and that the fellow opposite was doing hirn an injustice. But confronted by Vogelsang's stare, by his disgusting, arrogant, slashed face, this impulse vanished before it had become a real thought. The other boys all stared at Berthold. Vogelsang's attitude had impressed them, It seemed as though Oppermann had bitten off more than he could chew, But, naturally, he must not eat humble pie on that account. They waited, curious to see what he would do. He and Vogelsang were standing eye to eye with each other. At last Berthold opened his mouth. "No, sir," he said very qui- etly, even modestly, "I shall not apologize, sir," Everyone was satisfied. Vogelsang, too, was satisfied. Now he had really won. Now, owing to this attitude of Oppermann's, he would have the op- portunity of showing how a German schoolmaster crushed

BOOK ONE: YESTEIt.DA Y 97 corruptive elements. "Very weil," he said. "1'11 remernher that, Oppermann. Be seated." Berthold went to his seat, What he had done was certainly not very wise. He could see that by his enemy's attitude, by the light that Bashed in his eyes. But if he were to be given a choice again, he would da the same thing. He could not apol.. ogize to that man. The other decided to practise moderation at all costs, But he could not resist calling out to the boy, as he sat down among the others: "Perhaps some day,Oppermann, you will be glad if people are satisfied with such amends," His voice was casual hut just this tone emphasized his triumph and his scorn. "We'll go on now with our reading of Kleist," added Bernd Vogelsang and thus concluded the incident in .a lofty man- ner, 16 The report of what had occurred spread rapidly through the whole school. Even Rector Franccis heard of it before the morning was over. He was not surprised when Senior Master Vogelsang paid rum a visit, Vogelsang scarcely allowed himself a disapproving glance at the bust of Voltaire, so full was he of the recentevent. But he kept hirnself in hand, deliberately avoided all exaggeration, and gave an accurate account of the matter. Franccis listened to him with evident uneasiness, His small, well-kept hands stroked his trim moustache nervously. "Unpleasant," he said several times after Vogelsang had finished. "Exceedingly un- pleasant."