“I must go down,” she told herself reluctantly. “They will think me so queer and unsociable if I stay up here any longer. Ada’s voice sounds as if she were holding forth about something.” Ada certainly was “holding forth,” and even before she reached the piazza, Gretel could hear her declaring in a loud, decided voice: “I think it’s the duty of every one of us to do it. A person who didn’t would be acting disloyally to the United States.” “Here comes Miss Gretel,” said Stephen Cranston, rising, and going forward to meet the newcomer, in his kind, courteous way. “You are just in time to hear Miss Godfrey deliver a lecture on loyalty. She is very eloquent on the subject.” Gretel smiled faintly as she dropped into the chair Stephen pushed forward for her, and, turning to Ada, asked what the lecture was about. “I’m not delivering a lecture at all,” said Ada, rather crossly. “I was only saying something that every one knows. We were talking about spies, and Kitty said she wondered what a person would do who found out some one she knew was a suspicious character. I said of course a loyal American would inform at once. It’s the only thing to do in war time.” “But I didn’t mean an ordinary person,” objected Kitty. “I meant a friend, some one you really cared about. Just think of having to inform against a cousin, or----” “I would inform against my own brother if I thought he were disloyal to my country,” interrupted Ada, heroically. “Don’t you think I am right, Mr. Fairfax?” “I do,” agreed the young ensign heartily. “Any one acting against the United States Government is a traitor, and we all know what should be done with traitors.” “But suppose you were not sure,” objected Kitty. “Suppose you only suspected some one, and had no real proof, what would you do then?” “This is no time to wait for proof,” Jimmy Fairfax asserted. “Let the United States Secret Service look up the proofs. Our duty would be to give the information, and put the right authorities on the scent. Did you read about those ammunition works that were blown up the other day in New Jersey? More than a hundred people were killed. That was undoubtedly the work of the Germans. I tell you we can’t be too careful.” “Well, we are none of us likely to be called upon to inform against any of our friends,” said Stephen, good-naturedly. “I don’t believe we have any German spies among our acquaintances, do you, Miss Gretel?” “I hope not, I am sure,” said Gretel, trying to speak quite naturally, but conscious of a sound of embarrassment in her voice. Stephen looked at her more attentively. “Have you a headache?” he asked, kindly. “No,” said Gretel. “What made you think I had?” “I thought you were looking a little seedy. This heat is enough to give any one a headache. My mother has had a bad one all day. Ah, here comes some iced tea; that will refresh us all. Aunt Molly knows what people like on a hot afternoon.”