"

"I will not dare to come in ze daytime," said Florette, "but after it is
dark, zen I will come. You must have ze cover almost shut and I will
pull ze vines over it."

"We'll tend to that," said Tom.

"We'll camouflage it, all right," Archer added.

For a moment she lingered as if thinking if there were anything more she
might do for their comfort. Then against her protest, Tom accompanied
her part way back and they paused for a moment under the thickly covered
trellis, for she would not let him approach the house.

"I'm sorry we made you so much trouble," he said; "it's only because we
want to get to where we can fight for you."

"Oh, yess, I know," she answered sadly. "My pappa, it break his heart
because he cannot make you ze true welcome. But you do not know. We
are--how you say--persecute--all ze time. Zey own Alsace, but zey do not
love Alsace. It is like--it is like ze stepfather--you see?" she added,
her voice breaking. "So zey have always treat us."

For a few seconds Tom stood, awkward and uncomfortable; then clumsily he
reached out his hand and took hers.

"You don't mean they'll take you like they took the people from Belgium,
do you?" he asked.

"Ziss is worse zan Belgium," Florette sobbed. "Zere ze people can escape
to England."

"Where would they send you?" Tom asked.

"Maybe far north into Prussia. Maybe still in Alsace. All ze familees
zey will separate so zey shall meex wiz ze Zhermans." Florette suddenly
grasped his hand. "I am glad I see you. So now I can see all ze
Americans come--hoondreds----

"Tomorrow in ze night I will bring you ze clothes," she whispered, "and
more food, and zen you will be rested----"

"I feel sorry for you," Tom blurted out with simple honesty, "and I got
to thank you. Both of us have--that's one sure thing. You're worse off
than we are--and it makes me feel mean, like. But maybe it won't be so
bad. And, gee, I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow night, too."

"I will bring ze sings, _surely_," she said earnestly.

"It isn't--it isn't only for that," he mumbled, "it's because I'll kind
of look forward to seeing you anyway."

For another moment she lingered and in the stillness of night and the
thickly roofed arbor he could hear her breath coming short and quick, as
she tried to stifle her emotion.

"Is--is it a sound?" she whispered in sudden terror.

"No, it's only because you're scared," said Tom.

He stood looking after her as she hurried away