not to be despised in these times. You yourself say
that after the War the money will be made up----"
she looked at him expectantly.

He said rather quickly to his wife, "Look here,
Polly! Never mind this -- it's business you wouldn't
understand!" And his wife shrugged her shoulders.
She didn't care what the old woman was saying to
Alfred. She supposed it was something about the
War -- the War of which she was so heartily sick, and
which had brought them, personally, such bad luck.

"It is difficult to decide such a thing in a hurry,"
said Alfred Head slowly.

"But it will have to be decided in a hurry," said
Anna firmly. "What is to happen if tomorrow Mrs.
Otway comes and tells me that I am to go away to
London, to Louisa? English people are very funny,
as you know well, Herr Hegner!" In her excitement
she forgot his new name, and he winced a little when
he heard the old appellation, but he did not rebuke
her, and she went on: "Willi told me, and so did
the gentleman, that on no account must I move that
which was confided to me."

"Attend to me, Frau Bauer!" he said imperiously.
"This matter is perhaps more important than even
you know, especially at such a time as this."

"Ach, yes!" she said. "I have often said that to
myself. Willi's friend may be interned by now in
one of those horrible camps -- it is indeed a difficult
question!"

"I do not say I shall be able to do it, but I will
make a big effort to have the whole business settled
for you tomorrow morning. What do you say to
that?"

[[299]]

p298 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p299w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p300

v?