"Karen," said Guild, "this is Miss Courland who extends her own and Mrs. Courland's charity to me--" He checked himself, smiling. "_Do_ you still extend it, Miss Courland?" Valentine had come forward and had offered her hand to Karen, and retaining it for a second, she turned to answer Guild: "Of course! We came to take you back with us." And, to Karen: "It isn't a very gracious thing for us to do--to steal a guest from Quellenheim--and I am afraid you do not feel very grateful toward me for doing it." Their hands parted and their eyes rested on each other for a second's swift feminine appraisal. "Baron von Reiter has not yet arrived," said Karen, "so I do not think Mr. Guild has had a very interesting visit. I feel as though I ought to thank you for asking him to Lesse." Guild, who was talking to Darrel, heard her, and gave her a rather grim look. Then he presented Darrel; and the light, gossipy conversation became general. With one ear on duty and one listening to Darrel, Guild heard Karen giving to Valentine a carelessly humorous outline of her journey from England--caught the little exclamations of interest and sympathy from the pretty brown-eyed American girl, and still was able to sketch for Darrel the same theme from his own more sober point of view. Neither he nor Karen, of course, spoke of the reason for Guild's going to England, nor that the journey had been undertaken on compulsion, nor, indeed, did they hint at anything concerning the more sinister and personal side of the affair. It merely appeared that a German general, presumably a friend of Guild, not being able to get his daughter out of England after hostilities had commenced, had confided the task to a man he trusted and who was able to go unquestioned into a country at war with his own. But it all seemed quite romantic enough, even under such circumstances, to thrill Valentine Courland. "Do come back to Lesse with us, won't you?" she asked Karen. "My mother and I would love to have you. You'd be bored to distraction here with only the housekeeper. Do come!" "I haven't any clothes," said Karen frankly. "I have loads of them! We'd be so glad to have you at Lesse. Won't you come back with us?" Karen laughed, enchanted. She could see Guild without looking at him. His attitude was eloquent. "If you really do want me, I'll come," she said. "But you and Mr. Darrel will remain to luncheon, won't you? I'll speak to the Frau Förster--if I may be excused--" She fell for a moment again, unconsciously, into her quaint schoolgirl manner, and dropped them a little curtsey. Guild opened the pantry door for her and held it. "May I explain to them a little more clearly who you are, Karen?" he asked in a low voice. "Yes, please." He came back into the hall where Miss Courland and Darrel were talking. Valentine turned swiftly. "Isn't she the sweetest thing!" exclaimed the girl warmly.