“He doesn’t deserve any cake,” declared Ada, rising. “I’m going to take him home. It’s time I went, anyway; I promised Mother to be back by half-past five. Good-bye, everybody. Oh, Mr. Cranston, don’t you and Mr. Fairfax want to come over to play tennis at our place some afternoon? The courts are pretty good. You can bring any friends you like.” And, having cast a rather coquettish glance in the direction of the two young ensigns, Ada hurried down the steps, followed by the reluctant Archie. “I’ll walk home with you if you don’t mind,” said Jimmy Fairfax. And as Ada certainly did not mind, the two walked down the path together very amicably indeed. For the next few minutes everybody talked fast and rather nervously. Molly plied Gretel with tea and chocolate cake, and Geraldine changed her seat so as to sit next to her friend, and give Gretel’s hand a surreptitious squeeze. Kitty began to sing, “When the Boys Come Home,” and Stephen plunged into a funny story, which made them all laugh. No further allusion was made to Ada or her cousin, and it was evident that every one was anxious to be especially kind to Gretel. Gretel understood, and her heart glowed with gratitude, but Archie Davenport’s foolish behavior had left a sting, nevertheless, and then there was that talk about informing against suspects, to add still more to her trouble and perplexity. Jimmy Fairfax came back to supper, and in the evening they all went out in the launch, with Mrs. Cranston to chaperon the party. “Why so pensive, Miss Gretel?” Stephen asked, taking the vacant seat beside Gretel, as the little motor-boat carried them swiftly up the river towards Norwich. Gretel roused herself with a start. “I didn’t know I was pensive,” she said, smiling. “I was thinking how lovely and peaceful it was out here on the water.” “You looked as if your thoughts were about a thousand miles away from the rest of us,” said the young man. “I want to say something but I’m half afraid you may not like it.” “Try and see,” said Gretel. “I don’t believe it is anything I shall object to.” “It’s about the nonsense that little beast talked this afternoon. I’m afraid it hurt your feelings and it’s rather silly to mind those things, you know.” “I know it is,” said Gretel. “I try not to be silly and I really don’t mind half as much as I did at first. I know a great many people feel very bitterly against the Germans, and I don’t suppose they can help it. I am an American, of course, but my father was a German and I loved him very dearly. It does hurt sometimes to hear people talk about his country as they do.” “Of course it hurts,” said Stephen. “I can just imagine how I should feel about people who talked against the United States. The Germans have done some outrageous things and I hope they are going to be thoroughly licked, but it isn’t necessary to throw mud at people just because they happen to have had German ancestors. I’m awfully glad you look at the thing so sensibly.”