disposed to hurry, had departed, they
were both startled by the sudden ringing of the front door bell, the
bell whose silence they had been discussing, then they heard the noise
of people outside.

A little later, one of the maids having opened the door, Gretchen and
Major Hersey recognized familiar voices in the hall.

The same instant Gretchen escaped.

Then followed a cry from Frau Liedermann, and Sergeant Hackett's voice
and another voice replying.

Major Hersey, unable to guess what had taken place, and anxious, joined
the little group outside his door.

In his arms Sergeant Hackett was carrying Freia. It was apparent that
the little girl must have fallen and hurt herself, yet evidently her
injury was not serious. They were accompanied by Nora Jamison and the
little French girl, Louisa.

"I am so sorry, Frau Liedermann, a number of children were playing in
the park and Freia must have fallen among some stones. She was so
frightened I thought it best to come home with her and we had the good
fortune to meet Sergeant Hackett along the way. I don't think you will
find there is anything serious the matter; I am sorry if we have alarmed
you. I must return now to the hospital."

At this moment unexpectedly Frau Liedermann began to weep. She was a
little like a grown-up Gretchen, and one felt instinctively that she was
out of place in her husband's household. He was a stern and gloomy old
man, possibly too proud to reveal to strangers how bitterly angered he
was by the German defeat and the disgrace of his former emperor.

But Freia, whose name came to her from the legendary German goddess, who
represented "Life and light and laughter and love," was the adored child
of the family and particularly of the little mother to whom she was "her
wonder child."

"But you will stay and see if Freia is seriously hurt? You are a Red
Cross nurse and must know better than I," Frau Liedermann pleaded.
"Freia has so often said that she wished to have us meet, but you would
not come to our home and I could not go to you at your American Red
Cross hospital. Can the war not be over among us women at least? I have
relatives, brothers and sisters in America from whom I have not heard in
four years. Yet my husband thinks I am not a true German because I wish
to be happy and make friends again with our former foes."

Just for a fraction of a second Nora Jamison's eyelids were lowered and
her face changed color. Was it possible that