to retire. They lay long
awake afterwards, debating in whispers what terror might be in store
for them. Mrs. Warren cried a good deal and lamented futilely her
indolent languor of a few days previously. _Why_ had she not, while
there was yet time, cleared out of Brussels, gone to Holland, and
thence regained England with Vivie, and from England the south of
France? Vivie, more stoical, pointed out it was no use crying over
lost opportunities. Here they were, and they must sharpen their wits
to get away at the first opportunity. Perhaps the American Consul
might help them?

The next morning, however, their guest, who had insensibly turned
host, told Vivie the tram service to Brussels, like the train
service, was suspended indefinitely, and that he feared they must
resign themselves to staying where they were. Under his protection
they had nothing to fear. He was sorry the soldiers had helped
themselves so freely to the livestock; but everything had now
settled down. Henceforth they would be sure of something to eat, as
he himself had got to be fed. And all he asked of them was their
agreeable society.

Two months went by of this strange life. Two months, in which Vivie
only saw German newspapers--which she read with the aid of von
Giesselin. Their contents filled her with despair. They made very
little of the Marne rebuff, much of the capture of Antwerp and
Ostende, and the occupation of all Belgium (as they put it). Vivie
noted that the German Emperor's heart had bled for the punishment
inflicted on Louvain. (She wondered how that strange personality,
her father, had fared in the destruction of monastic buildings.) But
she had then no true idea of what had taken place, and the
far-reaching harm this crime had done to the German reputation. She
noted that the German Press expressed disappointment that the cause
of Germany, the crusade against Albion, had received no support from
the Irish Nationalists, or from the "revolting" women, the
Suffragettes, who had been so cruelly maltreated by the
administration of Asquith and Sir Grey.

This point was discussed by the Colonel, but Vivie found herself
speaking as a patriot. How _could_ the Germans expect British women
to turn against their own country in its hour of danger?

"Then you would not," said von Giesselin, "consent to write some
letters to your friends, if I said I could have them sent safely to
their destination?--only letters," he added hastily, seeing her
n