They had prepared tea for him specially, and Elsa served it like an English girl, charmingly.
Brand was not an easy conversationalist His drawing-room manners were gauche always, and that evening in the German drawing-room he felt, he told me, "a perfect fool," and could think of no small-talk. Franz von Kreuzenach helped him out by talking about Oxford, and Brand felt more at ease when he found that the young German officer knew some of his old college friends, and described a "rag" in his own third year. The old Baron sat stiffly, listening with mask-like gravity to this conversation. Elsa laughed without embarrassment at her brother's description of a "debagging" incident, when the trousers of a Proctor had been removed in "the High," and the Frau von Kreuzenach permitted herself a wintry smile.
"Before the war," she said, "we wished our children to get an English education. Elsa went to a school at Brighton We were very fond of England."
The General joined in the conversation for the first time.
"It was a weakness. Without offence, sir, I think that our German youth would have been better employed at German universities, where education is more seriously regarded, and where the national spirit is fostered and strengthened."
Brand announced that he had been to Heidelburg University, and agreed that German students take their studies more seriously than English.
"We go to our universities for character more than for knowledge."
"Yes," said the elder von Kreuzenach. "It is there the English learn their Imperialism and political ambitions. From their point of view they are right. English pride—so arrogant—is a great strength."
