my part, I think this Major a very-much-to-be-envied
man!" Her loyalty to the woman who had been kind
and good to her over so many years awakened, tardily.

"No doubt, no doubt," said Alfred Head carelessly.
"But now I suppose you are thinking of yourself,
Frau Bauer?"

Polly broke in: "Do talk in English," she said
pettishly. "You can't think how tiresome it is to hear
that rook's language going on all the time!"

Her husband laughed. "Well, I suppose this marriage
will make a difference to you?" he said in
English.

"A difference?" exclaimed Anna ruefully. "Why,
my good situation me it loses. Home to the Fatherland
my present idea is----" her eyes filled with big
tears.

Her host looked at her thoughtfully. What an old
fool she was! But that, from his point of view, was
certainly not to be regretted. She had served his purpose
well -- and more than once.

"Mrs. Otway she a friend has who a German maid
had. The maid last week to Holland was sent, so
no trouble can there be. However, one thing there
is----" she looked dubiously at Polly. "Mrs. Head
here knows, does she, about my----?"

And then at once between Alfred Head's teeth
came the angry command, in her own language, to
speak German.

She went on eagerly, fluently now: "You will understand,
Mr. Head, that I cannot behave wrongly
to my dear nephew Willi's superior. I have been
wondering tonight whether I could hand the affair
over to you. After all, a hundred marks a year are

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p297 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p298w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p299

v?