“It’s only a thunder-storm,” she murmured; “oh, I’m so glad. I thought for a minute it might be--oh, if the Germans in this country should do anything terrible, as they have done in France and England! I wonder what Percy meant when he said he had found out things in Washington.” CHAPTER V OFF FOR NEW LONDON It was on the following Monday morning that the invitation came. Gretel found it awaiting her on the breakfast table, and at once recognized Molly Chester’s rather straggly handwriting. Mr. Douaine had returned to Washington the previous day, and Gretel and her sister-in-law were alone at breakfast. “Who is your correspondent, dear?” Mrs. Douaine asked, glancing up from her own pile of letters, at the sound of an exclamation from Gretel. “Molly Chester,” Gretel answered. “She wants me to visit her this week. May I read her letter to you?” “Yes, do. I like Molly; she is such a genuine, unaffected girl. My own mail isn’t a bit interesting this morning; nothing but bills and appeals for war charities.” “It’s a wonderful invitation,” said Gretel, “but I don’t know whether I ought to go away just now when you are so busy, and I might be some help in the packing.” “Let us hear what Molly says, at any rate,” said Mrs. Douaine, as she poured her coffee, and Gretel began to read: “DEAREST GRETEL: “I am in a frightful hurry, as I want to post this letter on the way to church, so please excuse an awful scrawl, but I simply can’t wait another minute, because there isn’t any time to spare. “Mother wants to know if you can come to us this week Tuesday, and stay until after the Fourth. Kitty is coming, and I am writing to ask Geraldine and her brother. I know she won’t stir in vacation without her twin, and my brother Paul has taken a tremendous fancy to Jerry Barlow. You know they both go to Groton, and although Paul is only twelve, it seems Jerry has been awfully good to him, so Paul is just wild to have Jerry asked for a visit. I am sure we four girls can have lots of fun together, so be sure to come, and send me a telegram, saying you will meet Father at the Grand Central on Tuesday afternoon, in time to take the three o’clock train for New London. I know your family don’t like to have you travel by yourself, and that is why we decided on Tuesday, as Father doesn’t expect to be in town again next week. “It seems rather soon to ask you to visit me, when school only closed last Thursday, but Mother expects a lot of visitors in July, and in August I expect to go to my Aunt Maud’s at Magnolia. I do hope you won’t mind leaving your family so soon, but it really can’t be helped. If they make a fuss about letting you go, tell them you can be with them all the rest of the summer, and I really must have you now.