“O, there is Miss West!” interrupted Betty. “Let’s ask her to take a row with us.” In a few minutes the three were on the river together, Patricia West glad of the recreation with two such exceptionally nice girls. Moved by some impulse, Betty started in to recount her experience, with all the attendant circumstances. “Of course Patty wouldn’t tell,” the girls always thought, and in receiving their confidences Miss West often had some difficult questions of ethics and loyalty to decide. “O, Betty!” she exclaimed when Betty came to the scene under the oak tree. “Don’t worry, Miss West,—never again!” “For any of us,” added Cathalina. “What do _you_ think, Miss West?” After a few questions, Miss West considered a moment, then said: “It was her brother, without doubt, for he has been at the Hall. I can see no reason except his own convenience for the late meeting. However, some people just love to be mysterious and do things in an underhand way. It showed a lack of consideration for his sister. I think what he brought her was a package of mail and papers that probably just got through from Germany. He is at the military school. Louise brought in some German papers to Miss Randolph this morning while I happened to be with her, and wanted us to sympathize with their standpoint about the war. Their real name is Von Holle, though in this country they have usually gone by the name of Holle. I know I can trust you girls not to talk about it,—but Miss Randolph has been quite puzzled, wondering what she ought to do. We are supposed to be neutral, of course, but every human being has passed judgment on the recent deeds of Germany, and with all the talk among the girls Miss Randolph feared that for one thing Louise would be very unhappy here. And she was in quite a state at first. Her father was a Prussian officer and was killed in the first advance through Belgium. He had sent his family to America early in the summer. They used to live here and the children were born here. Their English is perfect, but the mother says ‘ve’ for ‘we,’ and has a decidedly foreign accent. She is a public singer, not especially noted. Miss Randolph had to decide so suddenly and they were so insistent, wanting a safe place for Louise while the family was so unsettled that it was finally arranged. I believe if I were you that I would just pass it over and not think about it. But do not follow any crazy plans for breaking rules again. The rules are not made for fun, you know, only to protect you girls.” “I know now,” said Cathalina, suddenly, “what that resemblance is. Three years ago when we were in Berlin, there was quite a scene one day,—an officer and some men. Father hurried us away, but I can see yet the officer’s angry face as he lifted his sword and struck one of the men. Do you suppose it could have been her father?” “O, you couldn’t assume that, Cathalina. There are many chance resemblances.”