tired in fact, for it had been a long and rather an
exciting day.

She had never before seen her husband quite so
pleasant and jovial, and as she moved about she heard
continually his loud, hearty laugh. He was cheering
up the people round him -- so much was clear. All
of them had looked gloomy, preoccupied, and troubled
when they came in, but now they seemed quite merry
and bright.

There was one exception. Poor Mr. Frohling
looked very miserable. Mrs. Hegner felt very sorry
for Mr. and Mrs. Frohling. When her husband had
heard of what had befallen the unfortunate barber,
and how he had been ordered to pack up and leave
his shop within a few hours, he had said roughly:
"Frohling is a fool! I told him to take out his certificate.
He refused to do it, so now of course he will
have to go. Witanbury has no use for that man!"

And now Mr. and Mrs. Frohling, alone of the
company there, sat together apart, with lowering
brows.

Mrs. Hegner went up to them, rather timidly. "I
want to tell you how sorry I am, Mr. Frohling," she
said conciliatingly. Polly had a kind heart, if a
pettish manner. "What a pity you didn't take out
your certificate when Manfred advised you to do so!"

Mr. Frohling remained silent. But his wife said
wistfully, "Ach, yes, Mrs. Hegner. It is a pity now;
but still, the officers they have been kind to us, really
very kind. One of them even said it would not have
made much difference----"

Her husband interrupted her. "He nothing, Jane,
said of the kind! That it ought not any difference

[[71]]

p070 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p071w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p072

v?