"I? nothing!" said Jane with the severest tone and emphasis that lay at her command. Then she turned away, went to the window, and pressed her forehead against the panes. "And you, Mr. Atkins!" The gentleman addressed leaned back resignedly in his chair. "I shall await further developments, Doctor Stephen. You will perhaps next inform me that the professor has stormed a battery, and that Frederic has given an archaeological lecture in his place. Do not seek to spare me in the least; I am prepared for all; I shall never again be surprised at anything here in Germany." The Doctor laughed aloud; but his merriment all at once ceased, and he gazed anxiously out at the window. "What has happened now? Here is Frederic coming back already, and in such haste! What is the matter with the fellow? He seems greatly agitated." It was surely Frederic hastening at a full run through the garden. He now burst into the room in such excitement that even the presence of the much feared American Miss and her more hated companion, did not affect him in the least. "What is the matter?" asked the doctor hastily. "Has anything happened, Frederic?" "Yes," whispered Frederic, breathlessly. "Something has happened--the Herr Professor"-- "An accident? Where? Upon the railway or over in H. Speak out quickly!" urged the doctor, in serious alarm. "Over in H.!" burst out Frederic despairingly. "The Herr Professor--he, too, is going with us to the field--we march to-morrow morning!" The momentary effect of these words was a deathly silence. Jane had turned around, and was gazing at the unhappy messenger as if she seriously doubted his sanity; the doctor stood there as if struck by a thunderbolt; but Mr. Atkins, after an instant's pause, said, half aloud:-- "Now, nothing is really wanting, now, but Herr Frederic's lecture upon archaeology!" "But are my military colleagues fools?" broke out the doctor, in great exasperation. "Professor Fernow declared capable of bearing arms! My patient, who I have attended for three years! How in Heaven's name has this happened?" "I do not know how it really came about," said Frederic, to whom anxiety and excitement had lent a wonderful gift of speech; "but it is my master's own fault. I was standing very near him when one of the doctors gave him a side glance, shrugged his shoulders, and said: 'Well you are not fit for military duty; you could scarce carry a musket!' God only knows why the Herr Professor took this so ill; his whole face all of a sudden became red as blood; he gave the doctor an angry glance, drew back a few steps, and then said in a loud voice: 'I beg at least for an examination!' 'If that is all, you shall have it,' answered the surgeon-in-chief, and you can yourself decide"-- "Was it the surgeon-in-chief?" interrupted the doctor. "I should have supposed so! He takes all! even those who, at the very first march, will have to be left lying in the hospital. Well, go on!"