,
but Russia is so far away, and my father----"

"Yes, I know," General Alexis interrupted. "Do you not suppose I have
thought over all those things? Until this war is past I shall not even
ask you to become my wife. My life belongs to my country and I would not
have you alone here in a foreign land. All I ask is that I may write you
and some day in happier times may I come to see my American friend?"

Mildred could only nod and let General Alexis keep tight hold of her
hand, while a sense of the warmth and sweetness of the affection of a
big nature slowly enveloped her.

Then, as they walked back to the sleigh in silence and continued in
silence almost all the way back to the lodgings, Mildred could only keep
thinking how much her father would like General Alexis. Once she smiled,
because her next thought was how immensely pleased and impressed her
mother would be. It seemed impossible that the plain and unattractive
Mildred could have captured so distinguished an admirer.

Late that night, as she lay awake, Nona Davis' voice suddenly broke the
stillness. The two girls were in the single bedroom, Barbara occupying a
lounge in the sitting room.

"There is something I want to tell you, Mildred. The strangest thing
happened to me this afternoon. Lieutenant Orlaff proposed to me. Why, I
scarcely know him at all, but he says that is not necessary when a
foreigner meets an American girl," Nona confided.

"You--why, Nona!" Mildred faltered, too surprised for the moment to
answer intelligently, because her friend's speech so oddly fitted into
her own thoughts. "Did you accept him?"

It was dark in the room, and yet Mildred could see that Nona had risen
half way up in bed.

"My gracious, no!" she ejaculated. "In the first place, I don't care
for him at all, and in the second, I just want to get hold of my dear
Sonya and return home to the United States. If your general does have
her pardoned I shall say prayers for him every night of my life. Funny,
but I believe I am afraid of Russia, even though I am half Russian.
Still, my mother did prefer to come to America to live. I simply
couldn't bear living in Russia always, could you, Mildred?" Nona ended,
as she again dropped back on her pillow.

But Mildred only answered, "I don't know," which was not in the least
conclusive.

CHAPTER XVII

_The Departure_

Four days later the three American girls left Petrograd. This was sooner
than they had expected to lea