so frightened!"

"We're all right," said Paul, a little remorseful.
"There was something we had to do, that I
will tell you about later. But how did this fire
start?"

"No one knows," said Madame de Frenard, her
eyes darkening. "All that is certain is that we
were awakened by a cry of fire. There was
scarcely time for all of us to get out, and for the
men to save a few of the best pictures. It seemed
that oil must have been spread about, for the fire
to burn so quickly! I do not believe it was an accident."

Paul and Arthur looked at one another. The
same thought had come to both of them. It was
Arthur who voiced it.

"The Germans?" he said, doubtfully.

"Just what I was wondering," said Paul. "But
why should they?"

"Oh, I thought of them, too!" said their aunt.
"And I, too, asked why. There is war but, even
so, we have nothing to do with that. There is no
reason for them to burn our home!"

"I think a great many things are going to
happen for which it will be hard to find a reason,"
said Paul, thoughtfully.

"Well, the first thing to be done is for us to get
a roof over our heads for to-night," said Madame
de Frenard, with decision. "Your uncle is still
in Brussels, unless he has already rejoined the
army. I think we had better go into Liege and
stay at a hotel."

"We can get into Liege," said Paul, rousing
himself from his mood of reflection, "but I'm not
sure about staying there. I think you had better
take your maid and go to Brussels, Aunt Claire.
The rest of the servants ought to go home, I think."

It was curious to see how their positions were
reversed in this emergency. It was Paul who was
in command now, not his aunt.

"Do you think so?" she said. "Why, Paul?"

"Because I am afraid that there will be hard
fighting around Liege. I do not think the town will
be defended for very long; it cannot be. It is
supposed only to check the German advance, to gain
a little time, so that the French and the English,
if they come to our aid, may have time to mass
their troops to the west and the north. I am sure
Uncle Henri would say I was right, and I can
arrange it for you to be sent to Brussels, I am sure."

Madame de Frenard was a little inclined to
smile, in spite of the fire and all the woe it had
brought with it.

"Why, Paul, how can you arrange anything?"
she asked. "Have you, perhaps, suddenly
acquired influence with the army?"

"He certainly has!" interrupted Art