“Oh, no they won’t, I’m sure they won’t!” protested Angel. “It is very hard for them, I know, and I am dreadfully sorry, but if we were in Germany now it would be just as hard for us. I don’t believe Miss Minton meant to be unkind.” “She thinks herself justified, I suppose,” returned the German woman. “You all do that, but it does not alter the fact. However, that is not the question now. I have come to say good-bye. I am taking the five-thirty train to New York.” All the girls except Ada rose politely. “Good-bye, Fräulein,” said Molly, holding out her hand. “I--I hope you’ll have a pleasant summer.” The others followed Molly’s example, and they all shook hands. Then Fräulein turned to Ada. “Will you not bid me good-bye?” she said. “I know you have never liked me, but may we not part friends?” “Good-bye, Fräulein,” said Ada, coldly. “I am sorry you think I have never liked you. I have always tried to be polite.” “Actions speak louder than words,” quoted Fräulein, and without another word, she turned to leave the room. “I’ll come and help you pack,” said Gretel, and, with a reproachful glance at Ada, she followed the German woman from the room. “Well, of all the disagreeable, impertinent people!” burst out Ada, as the door closed behind them. “To tell me I never liked her! It’s quite true, of course, but I didn’t suppose she knew it.” “I don’t see how she could have helped knowing it,” said Geraldine, bluntly. “I think you might have been polite enough to stand up and shake hands. None of us cares much about her, but it isn’t necessary to be rude.” Ada reddened, and bit her lip. “I don’t care how rude I am to a German,” she said. “I hate them all, and all loyal Americans ought to hate them. Think of Belgium and the _Lusitania_. I’m not like your friend Gretel Schiller.” Geraldine sprang to her feet; her eyes were flashing. “Ada Godfrey,” she cried, her voice trembling with rage, “you are the meanest girl I ever knew. You know perfectly well that Gretel is as good an American as any one of us. She can’t help the fact that her father was a German. If you ever say a thing like that again I’ll--I’ll----” “Oh, don’t quarrel, girls,” expostulated Molly. “Of course we know Gretel is all right, and it really was very rude to treat Fräulein as you did, Ada. Of course, she was rude, too, but then she is in a pretty hard position. Some Germans are very nice. We had a Fräulein when we were little, and we all loved her dearly. If we dislike Fräulein, I think it’s principally because she has never seemed to care much about us.”