John caught a beam of appreciation in
her eye. Presently she turned and went out, doubtless returning to some
task of the thrifty housewife in this very city of Dresden. John thought
her emblematic of Germany, homely herself, but with the undying love of
the beautiful shown so freely in her fine cities, and in the parks,
gardens and fountains more numerous than in an other country.

Her place was taken by an officer in a uniform, subdued in color, but
martial. He was a tall, stiff man, and as he walked with a tread akin to
the goosestep his feet clanked upon the floor. He wore a helmet, the
cloth cover over the spike, but John noticed that he did not take off
the helmet in the presence of the Sistine Madonna. He moved to a place
in front of the picture, brushing against the sisterhood of the red
book, and making no apology. There he stood, indifferent to those about
him, holding himself as one superior, dominant by force, the lord by
right of rank over inferior beings.

John's heart swelled with a sense of resentment and hostility. He knew
perfectly well that the stranger was a Prussian officer--a strong man
too, both in mind and body. He stood upright, more than six feet tall,
his wide shoulders thrown well back, his large head set upon a powerful
neck. Reddish hair showed beneath the edges of the helmet, and the blue
eyes that gazed at the picture were dominant and masterful. He was about
thirty, just at the age when those who are strong have tested their
minds against other men in the real arena of life and find them good.
The heavy, protruding jaw and the compressed lips made upon John the
impression of power.

The picture grew somewhat dim. One of those rapid changes to which
Dresden is subject occurred. The sunshine faded and a grayness as of
twilight filtered into the room. The glances of the young American and
the Prussian officer turned away from the Madonna at the same time and
met.

John was conscious that the blue eyes were piercing into him, but he had
abundant courage and resolution and he gave back the look with a
firmness and steadiness, equal to the Prussian's own. The cold steel of
that glance rested upon him only for a few moments. It passed on,
dissected in an instant the two teachers with the red guide book, and
then the man walking, to the window, looked out at the gray walls of the
city.

John had not lowered his eyes before the intrusive gaze, but he felt now
as if he had been subjected to