"

"When I can," replied the girl; "that is, you know, if the Baroness
Stolzenkop does not object."

"Bother the Baroness Stolzenkop!" said he energetically, and he
stretched out his hand to her with a smile. "Promise to write to me,"
he repeated.

Madaleine did not say anything; but she returned his smile, and he could
feel a slight pressure of her fingers on his, so with this he was
perfectly contented for the while.

"Ah, when the war is over!" he exclaimed presently, after a moment's
silence between the two, which expressed more than words would have done
perhaps. "Ah, when the war is over!"

"Eh, what?" said the doctor, coming in unexpectedly at that instant and
catching the last words.

"I--I--said," explained Fritz rather confusedly, "that when the war was
over, I'd be glad to get home again to my mother and those dear to me;"
and he looked at Madaleine as he spoke meaningly.

"Eh, what?" repeated the doctor. "But, the war isn't over yet, my
worthy young lieutenant, and I hope we'll patch you up so as to be able
to play a good part in it still for the Fatherland!"

"I hope so, Herr Doctor," answered Fritz. "I've no desire yet to be
laid on the shelf while laurels and promotion are to be won."

"Just so, that is good; and how do you feel this afternoon, eh?"

"Much better."

"Ah yes, so I see! You will go on improving, if you take plenty of
food. I bet that in a week's time I shall be able to turn you out of
these nice quarters here."

So saying, the surgeon bustled out of the room, with a kind nod to his
patient and a bow to Madaleine, who was shortly afterwards summoned by a
servant to the baroness--the footman telling her that her ladyship
requested her presence at once.

She returned later on, but it was only for a very brief interval, to say
good-bye. The Princess of Alten-Schlossen, she said, was about to leave
Mezieres immediately for Germany, and the baroness could not think of
staying behind, even for the charitable consideration of nursing any
more wounded, if the exalted lady, whose actions traced the pattern for
her own conduct, thought fit to go away! Madaleine, therefore, had
orders to pack up all the old dowager's numerous belongings, being also
given permission to make any arrangements she pleased for the poor
fellows who remained in the villa, in order to have them handed over to
the regular authorities, now that this amateur ambulance of the baroness
was going to abandon