seems any good news
now--and the other sort we can do without."

She understood that this was Mr. Head's polite way of asking why she had
come this evening, without an invitation. Hurriedly she answered, "No
news of any special kind I have--though much that me concerns. Along to
ask your advice I came. Supper require I do not."

"Oh, but you must stop and have supper with us--with me I mean," said
Polly eagerly, "for Alfred is going out--aren't you, Alfred?"

He hesitated a moment. "I shall see about doing that. There is no hurry.
Well, what is it you want to ask me, Mrs. Bauer?"

At once Anna plunged into her woes, disappointment, and fears. Now that
the excitement and pride induced by the Address had gone from his face,
Alfred Head looked anxious and uneasy; but on hearing Anna's great piece
of news he looked up eagerly.

"Mrs. Otway and this Major Guthrie to be married at the Cathedral
to-morrow? But this is very exciting news!" he exclaimed. "D'you hear
that, Polly? I think we must go to this ceremony. It will be very
interesting----" his eyes gleamed; there was a rather wolfish light in
them. "The poor gentleman is blind, is he? It is lucky he will not see
how old his bride looks----" he added a word or two in German.

Anna shrank back, and, speaking German too, she answered, "Mrs. Otway
has a very young face, and when not unhappy, she is very bright and
lively. For my part, I think this Major a very-much-to-be-envied man!"
Her loyalty to the woman who had been kind and good to her over so many
years awakened, tardily.

"No doubt, no doubt," said Alfred Head carelessly. "But now I suppose
you are thinking of yourself, Frau Bauer?"

Polly broke in: "Do talk in English," she said pettishly. "You can't
think how tiresome it is to hear that rook's language going on all the
time!"

Her husband laughed. "Well, I suppose this marriage will make a
difference to you?" he said in English.

"A difference?" exclaimed Anna ruefully. "Why, my good situation me it
loses. Home to the Fatherland my present idea is----" her eyes filled
with big tears.

Her host looked at her thoughtfully. What an old fool she was! But that,
from his point of view, was certainly not to be regretted. She had
served his purpose well--and more than once.

"Mrs. Otway she a friend has who a German maid had. The maid last week
to Holland was sent, so no trouble can there be. However, one thing
there is----" she looked dubiously at Polly. "M