d foolhardiness she had deliberately
flung herself from her horse. Yet at least she would never be so stupid
again or perhaps so wicked!

Finally getting up she lighted a candle and wandered first about the old
room and then out into the wide hall.

She had an idea of going to Bianca Zoli's room and of asking Bianca if
it were possible that she could make her a gift, an unusual gift
perhaps. The little countess desired one of Bianca's cast-off Red Cross
uniforms.

But then Bianca did not sleep alone and would certainly be startled by
such an extraordinary request.

Moreover, Charlotta would have no reasonable explanation to offer for
her request not being entirely clear in her own mind as to why she
desired this possession.

Later she tiptoed back into her own room and climbed into bed.

Next day probably she would make her singular demand. If she had no such
opportunity at some time, when the American Red Cross had departed from
Luxemburg, she would come back to her own house, since there she might
find what she wished.

If it became necessary and she did finally decide to leave home she
would require some disguise which her friends might unwittingly leave
behind them.

CHAPTER XI

_The Journey to Coblenz_

"I WANT a doughboy and not an officer to be first across that bridge."

This command from an American officer was issued one morning in
December, just as the sun broke through the grey mist. A little later,
the American Army of Occupation, which had been led to victory by
General Pershing, crossed the Moselle river. Beyond lay Germany.

There was no loud cheering, no blare of bands, or signs of the
conquering hero, when the American soldiers set foot on the land they
had crossed the ocean to conquer, only before their eyes floating in the
morning breeze were the stars and stripes.

The advanced guard continued the ascent over winding roads and past
villages onward toward the Rhine. First marched the infantry, then
followed the artillery, engineers, signal battalions and last the
hospital units. And accompanying one of the final units was Sonya Clark
and her Red Cross group.

Never were any of them to forget their journey into the city of Coblenz,
which, situated midway between Mayence and Cologne, just where the
Moselle flows into the Rhine, was to form the chief city for the
American Army of Occupation.

As a matter of fact Sonya and her Red Cross unit had not dreamed of
being able to f