"You're a sharp girl"--he laughed. "Well, yes! I have been thinking of it some time. And what's happened now has just tipped the bucket--see?" "Yes, I see that." "I've already written out the order for new bill-heads and new cards! and I've sent round the order about Monday," he went on. "But if this dratted Bank Holiday goes on, there won't be much work done in Witanbury on Monday! Hush! Here she comes." There had come a ring at the back door. Polly went out, and a moment later brought back the old German woman. Anna was surprised to find the husband and wife alone. She had thought that the Froehlings at least would be there. "Well, Mrs. Bauer"--her host spoke in German--"a friend or two who were coming have failed, and you will have to put up with me, for my wife has to go up to the Deanery to see her sister. But you and I will have plenty to talk about at such a time as this. And I have got some papers from Berlin for you. I do not know how much longer they will be coming to England." The old woman's face lighted up. Yes, it would be very nice to see one or two of the grand German picture papers which had been lately started in the Fatherland in imitation of those which were so popular in England. "Do not trouble to look at them now," he added hastily. "You can take them home with you. Mrs. Otway, she is too broad-minded a lady to mind, is she not?" "Ach! Yes indeed," said Anna. "Mrs. Otway, she loves the Fatherland. This foolish trouble makes not the slightest difference to her." Polly had been standing by rather impatiently. "Sometimes I'm quite sorry I haven't taken the trouble to learn German," she said. Her husband chucked her under the chin. "How would Frau Bauer and I ever be able to talk our secrets together if you understood what we said, little woman?" And Anna joined in the laugh with which this sally was greeted. "So long!" said Polly brightly. "I expect I'll be back before you've gone, Mrs. Bauer." CHAPTER XIII "There is good news!" exclaimed Anna's host, as soon as the door was shut behind his wife. "The British have sunk one of our little steamers, but we have blown up one of theirs--a very big, important war-vessel, Frau Bauer!"