very much," the Countess Charlotta
concluded in the frank fashion which was entirely natural to her.

Nevertheless the colonel looked slightly mollified.

"You will sit down, won't you, and wait until we hear whether Mrs. Clark
will be able to join us tonight?"

The Colonel pushed a large leather chair toward the fire, which the
little countess dropped into gratefully. Miss Pringle was already seated
in a chair which Major Hersey had provided for her during the Countess
Charlotta's recital.

"I am sorry, extremely sorry, you were forced to wait so long to see
me," Colonel Winfield protested. "It would have been pleasanter if
arrangements could have been made for you earlier in the day."

"Oh, you need not worry," the Countess Charlotta returned graciously, "I
am not in the least unhappy myself. Getting away from Luxemburg was so
much simpler than I ever dreamed it could be, that nothing ahead seems
so important. I wrote my father saying that I intended to sail for the
United States as soon as it could be arranged. As for sending me back
home," the little countess stretched her two hands before the fire so
that they grew rose pink from the warmth, then she sighed, but with no
deep show of emotion, "it would be very useless and very unkind to send
me back to my father after what I have done? Neither my father nor aunt
will wish to see me again. Even though they know Miss Pringle has been
with me every minute and that I have done nothing in the least wrong,
they would never forgive my disobedience. And they would not wish me to
live with them because they should always consider that I had disobeyed
them and that I would be an unfortunate influence upon other girls in
Luxemburg."

At this instant there was a knock at the door and a few moments later
Sonya, Dr. Clark and Bianca entered the large room.

If there was no especial enthusiasm in Sonya's greeting of the Countess
Charlotta, still there was no question of their acquaintance and
Bianca's welcome revealed all the pleasure which Sonya's lacked.

Nevertheless, Sonya offered to take charge of Miss Pringle and the young
countess at the Red Cross hospital for the night until better
arrangements could be made. They had several spare rooms in the old
castle. It was too late at present for any definite point of view in
regard to the unexpected intruders.

CHAPTER XVI

_A Growing Friendship_

A FEW weeks passed and it was March in Coblenz. The days continu