“Oh, Anna, you mean,” said Mrs. Becker, her dull face lighting with comprehension. “Rudolph told me to say Anna was in a hospital, but it was not true. She is in New Jersey, governess to two little boys. She left nearly two weeks ago, just before my husband and I moved here.” “But--but why did you send for me, then?” questioned the astonished Gretel. “I thought it was because Fräulein was ill and wanted to see me.” “My husband sent for you,” said Mrs. Becker, slowly, “because Anna had told us you were a good German. He thought you might be of use to him, but he made a mistake, and so he is very angry.” CHAPTER XII LOST They were having a merry evening at the Chesters’. Stephen Cranston and Jimmy Fairfax had come to dinner, and later, Ada Godfrey and her friends, including the objectionable Archie, had strolled over, in response to a telephone message from hospitable Molly. They had sat on the piazza for a while, the girls comparing notes about last evening’s dance, the boys discussing the latest German air raid, and then Stephen--who was generally the chief mover in every party--had suggested impromptu charades. “We won’t have to dress up, or anything like that,” he exclaimed. “We’ll just divide, and one side will act out a word, while the other side guesses it.” Several words had been successfully acted and guessed, and the audience was puzzling over the second syllable of “July,” represented by Jerry lying flat on his back, while Paul and Geraldine used their united efforts in an endeavor to raise him, when a servant appeared with a whispered message to Mrs. Chester, who immediately rose and went indoors. “It can’t be ‘Mule,’” said Molly, still intent on the word, “though Jerry certainly does act like one, lying there, and falling back every time they try to make him get up. I’m sure the first syllable was ‘Stingy’ or ‘Mean,’ but then that wouldn’t make sense. What do you think the word is, Aunt Dulcie? You generally guess everything.” “Wait till we see the next syllable,” said Mrs. Cranston. “I never commit myself too soon.” The actors had gone into the house to prepare for the acting of the whole word, and at that moment Stephen appeared in the doorway. “Hurry up, Steve,” called Molly. “We’re all waiting.” “Aunt Molly wants to speak to you, Mother,” said Stephen, and, to everybody’s surprise, his voice sounded grave and a little startled as well. “She would like to speak to you, too, Molly.” Mrs. Cranston and her niece rose hurriedly, and went into the house. Stephen also disappeared, and the others were left to form their own conjectures. “What do you suppose has happened?” questioned Kitty, anxiously. “I hope it isn’t bad news for any of us. My family were all right this morning when Mother telephoned, but things do happen so suddenly sometimes.” “I don’t believe it’s anything important,” said Ada, cheerfully. “Perhaps it’s a message from Mrs. Cranston’s publisher, offering her an enormous price for her next book.”