"Miss Girard and I have conversed philosophically and satisfactorily concerning everything on earth," he said. "I wish my conversations with you were half as satisfactory." Valentine laughed, but there was a slight flush on her cheeks, and again she glanced at Karen, whose lovely profile only was visible where she bent in silence above the keyboard. "Your mother," remarked Darrel, "has decided to sail with me. Would you condescend to join us, Valentine?" "Mother, are you really going back when Harry sails?" "Yes. I don't quite like the attitude of the men here. And Harry thinks there is very likely to be trouble between them and the Germans across the border." The girl looked thoughtfully at her mother, then at Darrel, rather anxiously. "Mother," she said, "I think it is a good idea to get Harry out of the country. He is very bad-tempered, and if the Germans come here and are impudent to us he'll certainly get himself shot!" "I! I haven't the courage of a caterpillar!" protested Darrel. "You're the worst fibber in the Ardennes! You _did_ kill that grey boar this morning! What do you mean by telling us that you went up a tree! Maxl, the garde-de-chasse at the Silverwiltz gate, heard your shot and came up. And you told him to dress the boar and send a cart for it. Which he did!--you senseless prevaricator!" "Oh, my!" said Darrel meekly. "And you're wearing a bandage below your knee where the boar bit you when you gave him the coup-de-grâce! Maxl washed and bound it for you! What a liar you are, Harry! Does it hurt?" "To be a liar?" "No! where you were tusked?" "Maxl was stringing you, fair maid," he said lightly. "He wasn't! You walk lame!" "Laziness and gout account for that débutante slouch of mine. But of course if you care to hold my hand----" The girl looked at him, vexed, yet laughing: "I don't _want_ people who do not know you to think you really are the dub you pretend to be! Do you wish Miss Girard to believe it?" "Truth is mighty and must----" "I know more about you than you think I do, Harry. Mr. Guild portrayed for me a few instances of your 'mouse'-like courage. And I don't wish you to lose your temper and be shot if the Uhlans ride into Lesse and insult us all! Therefore I approve of our sailing for home. And the sooner the better!" "You frighten me," he said; "I think I'll ask Jean to pack my things now." And he got up, limping, and started for the door. "Mother," she said, "that boar's tusks may poison him. Won't you make him let us bandage it properly?" "I think you had better, Harry," said Mrs. Courland, rising. "Oh, no; it's all right----" "Harry!" That was all Valentine said. But he stopped short. "Take his other arm, mother," said the girl with decision. She looked over her shoulder at Karen; the two young girls exchanged a smile; then Valentine marched off with her colossal liar. CHAPTER XX BEFORE DINNER