ng German had already commenced its flight back to the fatherland
with all the plunder it could carry off. The soldier-ex-hotel-waiter
was provisionally engaged to remain, as long as the Belgian
Government allowed him, and three stalwart British soldiers, until
the day before prisoners-of-war, were enlisted in her service and
armed with revolvers to repel any ordinary act of brigandage.

By the end of November she had the Hotel Edouard-Sept--with the
old name restored--running smoothly and ready for the new
guests--British, French officers and civilians who would follow
the King of the Belgians on his return to his capital. The
re-established Belgian authorities soon put her into possession of
the Villa Beau-sejour. The German sergeant-major here had kept faith
with her, and in return for handing over everything intact,
including the herd of cows, received a _douceur_ which amply
rewarded him for this belated honesty before he, too, set his face
towards Germany with the rest of the evacuating army. The motor-car
she had bought enabled her to fetch supplies of food from farm to
hotel and to perform many little services to Belgians who were
returning to their old homes. Madame Trouessart, not as yet having
any stock of tea with which to reopen her tea-shop to the first
incoming of curious tourists, agreed to live with Miss Warren at the
hotel and act as her deputy, if affairs took her away from Brussels.

It was at the Hotel Edouard-Sept, the place where she had been
born, that Rossiter met her when he arrived in Brussels after the
Armistice. She felt a little tremulous when his card was sent up to
her, and kept him waiting quite five minutes while she saw that her
hair was tidy and estimated before the glass the extent to which it
had gone grey. She had let it grow of late years--the days of David
Williams and Mr. Michaelis seemed very remote--and spent some time
and consideration in arranging it. Her costume was workmanlike and
that of an hotel manageress in the morning; yet distinctly set off
her figure and suited her character of an able-bodied, intellectual
woman.

* * * * *

"Vivie!"

"Michael!"

"My _dear_! You're handsomer than ever!"

"Michael! Your khaki uniform becomes you; and I'm _so_ glad you've
got rid of that beard. _Now_ we can see your well-shaped chin. But
still: we mustn't stand here, paying one another compliments, though
this meeting is _too_ wonderful: I neve