d's difficult nasal language. She kept
wondering when the meeting would begin. Time was going on. They always
got up very early in the morning, and already she was tired, very, very
tired in fact, for it had been a long and rather an exciting day.

She had never before seen her husband quite so pleasant and jovial, and
as she moved about she heard continually his loud, hearty laugh. He was
cheering up the people round him--so much was clear. All of them had
looked gloomy, preoccupied, and troubled when they came in, but now they
seemed quite merry and bright.

There was one exception. Poor Mr. Froehling looked very miserable. Mrs.
Hegner felt very sorry for Mr. and Mrs. Froehling. When her husband had
heard of what had befallen the unfortunate barber, and how he had been
ordered to pack up and leave his shop within a few hours, he had said
roughly: "Froehling is a fool! I told him to take out his certificate. He
refused to do it, so now of course he will have to go. Witanbury has no
use for that man!"

And now Mr. and Mrs. Froehling, alone of the company there, sat together
apart, with lowering brows.

Mrs. Hegner went up to them, rather timidly. "I want to tell you how
sorry I am, Mr. Froehling," she said conciliatingly. Polly had a kind
heart, if a pettish manner. "What a pity you didn't take out your
certificate when Manfred advised you to do so!"

Mr. Froehling remained silent. But his wife said wistfully, "Ach, yes,
Mrs. Hegner. It is a pity now; but still, the officers they have been
kind to us, really very kind. One of them even said it would not have
made much difference----"

Her husband interrupted her. "He nothing, Jane, said of the kind! That
it _ought_ not any difference to have made was what say he did. I, who
have in England lived since the year 1874; I, who England love; I, whose
son will soon for England be fighting!"

"My husband said," began Mrs. Hegner---- And again Mr. Froehling
interrupted rather rudely: "You need not tell me what your husband say,"
he remarked. "I know for myself exactly what Mr. Hegner say. If
everything could be foreseen in this life we should all be very wise.
Mr. Hegner, he does foresee more than most people, and wise he is."

Mrs. Froehling drew her hostess a little aside. "Don't mind him," she
whispered. "He is so unhappy. And yet we should be thankful, for the
gentlemen officers are getting up a little testimonial fund for poor
Froehling."

"I suppose you've save