They were very old-fashioned and precise, and Frau Generalin often told me that American girls were too ausgelassen in their manners.

She often reproved me for seating myself upon the sofa (which was only for old people) and also for looking about too much when walking on the streets.
Young girls must keep their eyes more cast down, looking up only occasionally.

(I thought this dreadfully prim, as I was eager to see everything).

I was expected to stop and drop a little courtesy on meeting an older woman, and then to inquire after the health of each member of the family.

It seemed to take a lot of time, but all the other girls did it, and there seemed to be no hurry about anything, ever, in that elegant old Residenz-stadt.