"It is impossible to discuss that now," she said, hastily. "And I would warn you that the servant, Hans, is a spy. Be very careful before him--be careful always, until we are safe across the frontier. There will be spies everywhere--a false word, a false movement, and all may be lost. Are you ready?" Stewart, rising from buckling the last strap, found himself confronting the most adorable girl he had ever seen. Every trace of the journey had disappeared. Her cheeks were glowing, her eyes were shining, and when she smiled, Stewart noticed a dimple set diagonally at the corner of her mouth--a dimple evidently placed just there to invite and challenge kisses. The admiration which flamed into his eyes was perhaps a trifle too ardent, for, looking at him steadily, she took a quick step toward him. "We are going to be good friends, are we not?" she asked. "Good comrades?" And Stewart, looking down at her, understood. She was pleading for respect; she was telling him that she trusted him; she was reminding him of the defenselessness of her girlhood, driven by hard necessity into this strange adventure. And, understanding, he reached out and caught her hand. "Yes," he agreed. "Good comrades. Just that!" She gave his fingers a swift pressure. "Thank you," she said. "Now we must go down. Dinner will be waiting. Fortunately the train is very late." Stewart, glancing at his watch, saw that it was almost six o'clock. "You are sure it is late?" he asked. "Yes; at least an hour. We will send someone to inquire. Remember what I have told you about the waiter--about everyone. Not for an instant must we drop the mask, even though we may think ourselves unobserved. You will remember?" "I will try to," Stewart promised. "But don't be disappointed if you find me a poor actor. I am not in your class at all. However, if you'll give me the cue, I think I can follow it." "I know you can. Come," and she opened the door, restoring him the handkerchief which she had hung over the knob. As they went down the stair together, Stewart saw the landlady waiting anxiously at the foot. One glance at them, and her face became radiant. "Ah, you are late!" she cried, shaking a reproving finger. "But I expected it. I would not permit Hans to call you. When husband and wife meet after a long separation, they do not wish to be disturbed--not even for dinner. This way! I have placed the table in the court--it is much pleasanter there when the days are so warm," and she bustled before them to a vine-shaded corner of the court, where a snowy table awaited them. A moment later Hans entered with the soup. Stewart, happening to meet his glance, read the suspicion there. "Well," he said, breaking off a piece of the crisp bread, "this is almost like home, isn't it? I can't tell you, Mary, how glad I am to have you back again," and he reached out and gave her hand a little squeeze. "Looking so well, too. Spa was evidently just the place for you."