istress told me to say
she was engaged when you came, should you call to-day, and that she is
unable to see you, there! Good-morning, Burgher Jans; good-morning,
most worshipful Herr!"

So saying, she slammed the door in the poor little man's face, leaving
him without, cogitating the reason for this summary dismissal of him by
the widow; albeit Lorischen, in order to indulge her own feelings of
dislike, had somewhat exaggerated a casual remark made by her mistress--
that she did not wish to be interrupted after the receipt of the good
news about Fritz, as she wanted to answer the letter at once!

CHAPTER NINE.

A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING!

"Do you know what is going on to-day?" said Madaleine Vogelstein to her
patient, a couple of days after she had aided him to scrawl that
postscript to her letter to his mother in his own handwriting, when he
had so far recovered that he might be said to be almost convalescent.
"No, what--anything important?" he replied, answering her question in
questionable fashion by asking another.

"Guess," said she teasingly, holding up her finger. "I'm sure I can't."

"The capitulation of Metz!" she said slowly with some emphasis, marking
the importance of the news she was telling.

"Never--it can't be!" ejaculated Fritz, making an effort to spring up in
the pallet bed on which he was still lying, but falling back with a
groan on finding himself too weak. "What an unlucky beggar I am!"

"Lie still," said she, putting her hand gently on his, which was outside
the quilt. "You must keep quiet, or you'll never get better, so as to
be able to stand up and walk about again--no, you won't, if you try to
hurry matters now."

"That's more than the French have done if they've only just given in!
Is it true, though? Perhaps you've only heard a rumour, for there are
always such false reports flying about. Why, in the camp it used to be
the current cry every morning, after we began the siege, that Metz had
fallen."

"It is true enough now, I can tell you," said Madaleine. "The whole
French army commanded by Bazaine has capitulated, and the Germans have
marched in and taken possession of the fortress."

"I must believe you; but, is it not aggravating that this should just
happen when I am invalided here, and not able to take part in the final
triumph? It is rather hard lines, after serving so long in the trenches
all during our wearisome environment, not to have had the satisfaction
in t