a bang on the bureau, only to be disgusted with this
show of temper which the persistent twinkle had not missed. Her next
impulse, unanalyzed because it was one of the oldest and simplest of
impulses, made her spin round and drop on her knees at her mother's
feet, which was just what had happened when she had started to brave out
the last lie--the childhood lie.

Her head buried in her mother's lap, she was sobbing. It was many years
since Mrs. Galland had known Marta to sob and she was glad that Marta
had not forgotten how. She believed in the value of the law of overflow.
When Marta looked up with eyes still moist, it was with the joyous
satisfaction that begins a confession. Not once during the recital did
the smile fade from Mrs. Galland's lips. She was too well fortified for
any kind of a shock to exhibit surprise.

"You see, I could not tell you--I--" Marta concluded, still uncertain
what conclusion lay behind her mother's attitude.

"Of course you could not," said Mrs. Galland. "As grandfather--my
father, the premier--said; a man action cannot stop to explain
everything he does. He must strike while the iron is hot. If you had
stopped to discuss every step you would not have gone far--Yes, I should
have argued and protested. It was best that I, being as I am--that I
should not have been told--not until now."

"And I must go on!" added Marta.

"Of course you must!" replied Mrs. Galland. "You must for the sake of
the Browns--the flag your father and grandfather served. They would not
have approved of petty deceit, but anything for the cause, any
sacrifices, any immolation of self and personal sensibilities. Yes, your
father would have been happy, though he had no son, to know that his
daughter might do such a service. And we must tell Minna," she added.

"Minna! You think so? Every added link may mean weakness."

"But Minna will see you going and coming from the tunnel, too. She is
for the Browns with all her heart. They are her people and, besides,"
Mrs. Galland smiled rather broadly, "that giant Stransky is with the
Browns!" So Minna was told.

"I'd like to kiss your skirt, Miss Galland!" exclaimed Minna in
admiration.

"Better kiss me!" said Marta, throwing her arms around the girl. "We
must stand together and think together in any emergency."

Soon after dark the attack began. Flashes of bursting shells and flashes
from gun mouths and glowing sheets of flame from rifles made ugly
revelry, while the