The ladies of the regiment pronounced this attire "indecent"; though not one of them would have hesitated to dress similarly, if it had suited her as well as it did Frau von Gropphusen.
Frau Kauerhof (_née_ von Lüben) had indeed once attempted to appear in a like toilet, only her skirt was navy-blue. It was difficult to say wherein the difference consisted,--perhaps her skirt was a little longer than the other's,--but the whole effect was not so successful. And yet Frau Kauerhof was a pretty creature enough; not exactly slim, but rather of a blonde plumpness, and this was somewhat noticeable in her loose shirt. The glances of the young lieutenants dwelt rather insistently thereon. They were also able to make another interesting discovery. Frau Kauerhof's calves began immediately above her ankles. They were very fat calves.
Furthermore, Frau Kauerhof's white shoes advertised the fact that her feet were enormous. This the ladies decided with absolute unanimity; and they begged Frau Wegstetten, the highest in rank among the women tennis-players, to give her a hint.
That lady shrank from the commission. It was unpleasant to offend one whose papa was in the Ministry of War; and the situation might therefore have continued, perhaps to the satisfaction of the younger officers, if a fortunate chance had not brought Kauerhof himself to the tennis-ground.
He escorted his wife chivalrously home, and led her, without a word, to the mirror.
Her starched shirt was crumpled, and wet through with perspiration, also her shoes were trodden all out of shape.
"Dear Marion," he said, "I have no objection to your going to balls as _décolletée_ as ever you please, for you are beautiful ..." and he kissed her neck; "but I do beg you not to exhibit yourself like this again."
Marion coloured and answered: "Yes, you're right, Hubby! Now I know why Fröben and Landsberg were staring at me so."
Then she pouted: "But Frau von Gropphusen looked nice dressed like this!"
Her husband answered quietly: "My child, '_quod licet Jovi, non licet bovi._'"
Kauerhof translated gallantly, "You are prettier than the Gropphusen, my Marion; but she is thinner than you."
For one must be polite to a wife who is by birth a von Lüben, and the daughter of the head of a department in the War Office.