Indeed, her heart now felt so hurt and sore that when
she heard the familiar rumble she would have liked to
run away and hide herself, instead of going to the
front door.

And yet, when the two came through into the hall,
Rose with something of her old happy look back again,
and Mrs. Otway's face radiant as Anna had never seen
it during all the peaceful years they two had dwelt so
near to one another, the poor old woman's heart softened.
"Welcome!" she said, in German. "Welcome,
my dear mistress, and all happiness be yours!"

And then, after Rose had hurried off to Robey's,
Mrs. Otway, while taking off her things, and watching
Anna unpack her bag, told of Major Guthrie's homecoming.

In simple words she described the little group of people --
of mothers, of wives, of sweethearts and of
friends -- who had waited at the London Docks for that
precious argosy, the ship from Holland, to come in.
And Anna furtively wiped away her tears as she heard
of the piteous case of all those who thus returned home,
and of the glowing joy of certain of the reunions which
had then taken place. "Even those who had no friends
there to greet them -- only kind strangers -- seemed happier
than anyone I had ever seen."

Anna nodded understandingly. So she herself would
feel, even if maimed and blind, to be once more in her
own dear Fatherland. But she kept her thoughts to
herself....

At last, after she had a little supper, Mrs. Otway
came into the kitchen, and motioning to Anna to do
likewise, she sat down.

[[303]]

p302 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p303w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p304

v?