Good old Anna's face beamed. It was not that she disliked England--indeed, she was very fond of England. But she naturally felt that in this great game of war it was only right and fair that the Fatherland should win. It did not occur to her, and well he knew it would not occur to her, that the man who had just spoken was at any rate nominally an Englishman. She, quite as much as he did himself, regarded the naturalisation certificate as a mere matter of business. It had never made any difference to any of the Germans Anna had known in England--in fact the only German-Englishman she knew was old Froehling, who had never taken out his certificate at all. Froehling really did adore England, and this had sometimes made old Anna feel very impatient. To Froehling everything English was perfect, and he had been quite pleased, instead of sorry, when his son had joined the British Army. "So? That is good!" she exclaimed. "Very good! But we must not seem too pleased, must we, Herr Hegner?" And he shook his head. "No, to be _too_ pleased would not be grateful," he said, "to good old England!" And he spoke with no sarcasm, he really meant what he said. "It makes me sad to think of all the deaths, whether they are German or English," went on Anna sadly. "I do not feel the same about the Russians or the French naturally." "Ach! How much I agree with you," he said feelingly. "The poor English! Truly do I pity them. I am quite of your mind, Frau Bauer; though every Russian and most Frenchmen are a good riddance, I do not rejoice to think of any Englishman, however lazy, tiresome, and pigheaded, being killed." They both ate steadily for a few minutes, then Manfred Hegner began again. "But very few Englishmen will be killed by our brave fellows. You will have to shed no tears for any one you know in Witanbury, Frau Bauer. The English are not a fighting people. Most of their sailors will be drowned, no doubt, but at that one must not after all repine." "Yet the English are sending an army to Belgium," observed Anna, thoughtfully. "What makes you think that?" He stopped in the work on which he was engaged, that of cutting a large sausage into slices. "Have you learnt it on good authority, Frau Bauer? Has this news been told you by the young gentleman official from London who is connected with the Government--I mean he who is courting your young lady?" Anna drew back stiffly. "How they do gossip in this town!" she exclaimed, frowning. "Courting my young lady, indeed! No, Mr. Hegner, it was not Mr. Hayley who told this. Mr. Hayley is one of those who talk a great deal without saying anything." "Then on whose authority do you speak?" He spoke with a certain rough directness. "I know because Major Guthrie started for Belgium on Friday last, at two o'clock. By now he must be there, fighting our folk." "Major Guthrie?" He looked puzzled. "Is he a gentleman of the garrison?--surely not?"