opposed its
introduction into the Trellis House, because it had been done by Miss
Rose's wish, but once it was installed, Anna had bitterly regretted its
being there. It was the one part of her work that she carried out badly,
and she knew that this was so. Not only did she find it most difficult
to understand what was said through the horrible instrument, but her
mistress's friends found even more difficulty in hearing her, Anna.
Sometimes--but she was very much ashamed of this--she actually allowed
the telephone bell to go on ringing, and never answered it at all! She
only did this, however, when her two ladies were away from Witanbury,
and when, therefore, the message, whatever it might happen to be, could
not possibly be delivered.

She waited now, hoping that the instrument would grow weary, and leave
off ringing. But no; on it went, ping, ping, ping, ping--so at last very
reluctantly Anna opened the kitchen door and went out into the hall.

Taking up the receiver, she said in a grumpy tone, "Ach! What is it?
Yes?" And then her face cleared, and she even smiled into the telephone
receiver.

To her great surprise--but the things that had happened to-day were so
extraordinary that there was no real reason why she should be surprised
at anything now--she had heard the voice of the one German in
Witanbury--and there were a good many Germans in Witanbury--with whom
she was on really friendly terms.

This was a certain Fritz Froehling, a pleasant elderly man who, like
herself, had been in England a long time--in fact in his case nearer
forty than twenty years. He was a barber and hairdresser, and did a very
flourishing business with the military gentlemen of the garrison. So
Anglicised had he and his wife become that their son was in the British
Army, where he had got on very well, and had been promoted to sergeant.
Even among themselves, when Anna spent an evening with them, the
Froehlings generally talked English. Still, Froehling was a German of the
good old sort; that is, he had never become naturalised. But he was a
Socialist; he did not share Anna's enthusiasm for the Kaiser, the
Kaiserine, and their stalwart sons.

This was the first time he had ever telephoned to her. "Is it Frau Bauer
that I am addressing?"

And Anna, slightly thrilled by the unusual appellation, answered, "Yes,
yes--it is, Herr Froehling."

"With you a talk I should like to have," said the friendly familiar
voice. "Could I this afterno