him four days later, informing her that he had changed
his mind about allowing her to inspect the Camps, and that all her
permits had been cancelled. No word of apology or regret, but a curt
request to return to him the passports and letters of introduction she
had received from him.

"Serves you right," her mother said, "for showing your enemy your
hand."

"Oh no," Hansie said, "I am positive that has nothing to do with it;
in fact, I don't believe General Maxwell is responsible for this at
all. He is acting under orders, and if I am not mistaken Lord
Kitchener is at the bottom of it. _He_ has put down that awful foot of
his, mother, and there is nothing more to be done."

"Perhaps"--Mrs. van Warmelo looked grave--"perhaps they have found out
something. I have often wondered at finding myself still at large
after the commotion made about the petitions and the report of the
Consuls. I can't forget how critical things seemed to me when three
Consuls came to Harmony late at night, while you were at Irene, to
warn me that the whole detective force was on the track of the
petitioners. Poor Mr. Cinatti was frightfully excited and said that it
was his duty to see that his petitioners' names did not become known.
He warned me that everything would be done to find us out, traps would
be set for us, and he advised me, if ever any one came to Harmony and
said that my name had been revealed, I was to say No! No!! No!!! and
he danced about the room, striking his left hand with his clenched
right fist at every 'No!'"

Hansie laughed and said, "There is no fear of your being found out.
The petitioners won't talk of that, you may be quite sure, and all the
Consuls are to be trusted."

"What are you going to do about this?" her mother asked, touching the
General's note.

"Oh, I am going to wait a few days to make him 'feel bad' and then, I
suppose, I must return my passports to him."

She waited three days, and then the General's behaviour strengthened
her in her belief that he was not to blame for the shabby way in which
he had treated her.

He was most penitent, begged her to forgive him for having caused her
so much inconvenience, and said he had been "very weak" in
entertaining the idea of her visiting the Camps.

They talked about certain improvements which Hansie had suggested, and
on which she had intended to lay much stress in her reports.

He promised that everything in his power would be done to arrest the
high