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GEROLD AND GESIMA
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änsli insisted on a regular marching order. It wasn't a girl's place, he decided, to walk on equal terms with two cadets in uniform. Gesima must stay ten steps behind. She made no objection, and appeared to assent to his pretensions, but every time Hänsli turned round to make sure that she was keeping her distance, she seemed to him to be a little nearer. Gesima protested energetically that she was not, but Hänsli halted the column and measured the distance. "You see, now it's only eight steps."
He put her where she belonged, gave the order "Forward! March!" and the quarrel at once began again. Then he ordered Gesima to walk the same distance ahead, so that he could control her more effectively. Again she obeyed without protesting but this time adopted a pace that might be called adagio molto quasi lento ritardando. The cadets were forced to crawl along just as slowly as she did, for otherwise it would be their fault that the distance wasn't kept. Not content with
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