"As to the other matter--the matter of your returning to Germany," he said musingly, still speaking in his and her native language, "I think, yes, on the whole your idea is a good one, Frau Bauer. It is shameful that it should be so, but England is no place at present for an honest German woman who has not taken out her certificate. I wonder if you are aware that you will only be allowed to take away a very little money? You had better perhaps confide the rest of your savings to me. I will take care of them for you till the end of the War." "Very little money?" repeated Anna, in a horrified, bewildered tone. "What do you mean, Herr Hegner? I do not understand." "And yet it is clear enough," he said calmly. "The British Government will not allow anyone going to the Fatherland to take more than a very few pounds--just enough to get them where they want to go, and a mark or two over. But that need not distress you, Frau Bauer." "But it does distress me very much!" exclaimed Anna. "In fact, I do not see now how I can go----" She began to cry. "Are you sure--quite sure--of what you say?" "Yes, I am quite sure," he spoke rather grimly. "Well, if you feel in that way, there is nothing more to be said. You will either stay with your present lady, or you will have to go to the Pollits." She looked up at him quickly; she was surprised that he remembered her daughter's married name, but it had slipped off his tongue quite easily. "Never will I do that!" she exclaimed. "Then you had better arrange to stop here. There are plenty of people in Witanbury who would be only too glad to have such an excellent help as you are, Frau Bauer." "I shall not be compelled to look out for a new situation," she said quickly. "My young lady would never allow that--neither would Mrs. Otway!" But even so, poor Anna felt disturbed--disturbed and terribly disheartened. The money she had saved was her own money! She could not understand by what right the British Government could prevent her taking it with her. It was this money alone that would ensure a welcome from the Warshauers. Willi and Minna could not be expected to want her unless she brought with her enough, not only to feed herself, but to give them a little help in these hard times. But soon she began to feel more cheerful. Mrs. Otway and the Dean would surely obtain permission for her to take her money back to Germany. It was a great deal of money--over three hundred pounds altogether. * * * * * Within an hour of her return to the Trellis House Anna heard the fly which had been ordered to meet Mrs. Otway at the station drive into the Close. For the first time, the very first time in over eighteen years, Anna did not long to welcome her two ladies home. 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.