“Yes, I know it,” Gretel answered, softly; “but I don’t feel just like singing to-night. I’m thinking about those boys on the ship. They sound so merry and happy, just as if war were nothing but a big joke. And yet, in a little while, they may all be fighting, and perhaps----” Gretel paused, abruptly, with an only half-suppressed sob. “I don’t believe they think very much about serious things,” said Kitty. “Some of them do, I am sure,” said Gretel, unsteadily, “but when people are brave they can pretend not to mind things, and help others by being cheerful. I think to be brave is one of the grandest things in the world.” “Even greater than being a great musician like your father?” Kitty asked. “Yes, even greater than that,” said Gretel, gravely. Just then Jerry and Paul, who had been spending the evening at one of the neighbors’, returned, and in a few minutes Mrs. Chester called them all indoors. When they awoke the next morning the big battle-ship was no longer to be seen. She had slipped quietly out to sea during the night. CHAPTER VII GRETEL MEETS AN OLD FRIEND “Mother wants to know if any one would like to go into New London with her,” said Molly, coming into Gretel’s and Geraldine’s room, on the following Saturday afternoon. “She’s going to the station to meet Aunt Dulcie, and has a little shopping to do first. She thought perhaps you might like to go with her.” “I’m going fishing with the boys,” said Geraldine. “I promised Jerry. He says he hasn’t seen anything of me since we came here.” “I’d like to go,” said Gretel, looking up from her knitting. “I want to get some more wool for this helmet I’m making for your cousin. I’m afraid I haven’t enough to finish it.” “All right; I’ll tell Mother. I’d like to go myself, but Kitty has a headache, and I’ve promised to stay at home with her. You and Steve seem to be great friends, Gretel.” “I like him,” said Gretel, simply. “He’s so kind and polite, and when he asked me to make a helmet for him, I was glad to do it.” Molly laughed. “It’s rather a joke,” she said, “considering the way he used to tease me about you.” “Why did he tease you about me?” Gretel inquired, in surprise. Molly looked a little embarrassed. “Oh, it was all nonsense, of course,” she said. “It was on account of your name, you know. You see, I used to talk a good deal about you, and he got into the way of calling you--you won’t be offended if I tell you, will you?” “Not a bit,” promised Gretel, laughing. “What did he call me?” “Well, I’m afraid it wasn’t a very pretty name, but then, you know, he had never seen you, and hadn’t any idea what you were like. He always spoke of you as ‘Miss Pumpernickel.’” Gretel and Geraldine both laughed heartily, and Gretel declared Stephen might call her “Miss Pumpernickel” as often as he liked, because she was sure he didn’t mean anything unkind. “It’s different when people say things in a disagreeable way,” she added, growing grave again.