Knowing how anxious Lois would be for a fuller understanding of his coming, Ray set off for Frau Helse’s house the moment he had finished breakfast next morning. Lois had obviously been on tenterhooks till he came. He was hardly ushered into the stiff, sombre drawing-room, when the door flew open and she came hastily in. “Oh, Ray!”--and he caught her in his arms and kissed her. “There is nothing wrong at home?--Mother?--Father?--” she asked quickly, her anxiety accepting the unusual warmth of his greeting as somehow appropriate to the circumstances. “Is it only what Mother says, or----” “Just exactly what Mother says, my child, and quite enough too. Everybody is perfectly well. Our only anxiety is on your account.” “And you really think there is going to be trouble?” “Uncle Tony is certain we’re in for a general European war,--in fact for Armageddon foretold of the prophets. And the mere chance of it is more than enough to make us want you home.” She could still hardly quite take it all in. She stood gazing at him in amazement. “And you?--you really think it, Ray?” “Nothing’s impossible in these times, and I’m not going to run any risks where you’re concerned. How soon can you be ready?” “I’ll finish my packing at once. I started early this morning, though I was not at all sure what it all meant.” “One moment, Lois,” he said meaningly. “You can trust these people, I suppose?” “Frau Helse? Oh yes. They’re as nice as can be.” “Very well then. Pack just your choicest possessions into a small bag that I can carry, and everything else into your trunk. We’ll leave the trunk in Frau Helse’s care and take the other with us.” “But why not take the trunk also?” she asked in surprise. “If matters are as I think, from what I’ve seen, they’re mobilising here for all they are worth, and the lighter we travel the better. Our train could hardly get through coming. Going back will be worse. Indeed I’ve already had it hinted to me that our safest way will be to strike right down south into Switzerland.” “Into Switzerland?” “Yes, if things develop rapidly, as they probably will, all the traffic here will go to pieces--all in the hands of the military, you know. And you know enough of Germany to know what that means.” She nodded thoughtfully, and said, “There’s been something going on below-ground for some time past. I was sure of it. They said it was manœuvres, but it looks as if it was a good deal more. I can be all ready in an hour. Will you see Frau Helse?” “Perhaps I’d better, so that she may see I’m at all events respectable to look at. Then I’ll go to the station and see if the trains are running all right. You’ve told her, I suppose.” “Yes, I showed her Mother’s letter. But she was decidedly shocked at the idea of my going off alone with any man who wasn’t at least a cousin.” “Oh--cousin! She’ll be more shocked before she sees the end of it all, maybe.”