be careful not to tell any one so in Witanbury, as it
might do him harm.

Anna was naturally a prudent woman, and she had
become quite proud of Alfred Head's friendship and
confidence. She much enjoyed the evenings she now
so often spent in the stuffy little parlour behind the
large, airy shop. Somehow she always left there feeling
happy and cheerful. The news that he gave her
of the Fatherland, and of what was happening on the
various fighting fronts, was invariably glorious and
comforting. He smiled with good-natured contempt
at the "Kitcheners" who were beginning to flood the
old cathedral city with an ever-growing tide of khaki,
and who brought him and all his fellow-tradesmen in
Witanbury such increased prosperity.

"Fine cannon-fodder!" Mr. Head would exclaim, of
course in German. "But no good without the rifles,
the ammunition, and above all the guns, which I hear
they have not!"

Every one was still very kind to Anna, and her
ladies' friends made no difference in their manner --
in fact they were perhaps a shade more cordial and
kindly. Nevertheless the old woman realised that
feeling towards Germany and the Germans had undergone
a surprising change during the last few weeks.
No, it was not the War -- not even the fact that so
many Englishmen had already been killed by German
guns and shells. The change was owing -- amazing and
almost incredible fact -- to the behaviour of the German
Army in Belgium!

Anna hated Belgium and the Belgians. She could
not forget how unhappy and ill-used she had been in
Ostend; and yet now English people of all classes

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v?