And so he
was.

"Just as well," said the Doctor, "though it does not speak so well for
the story as it might."

"Well," laughed the Journalist, "you have had a double success,
Doctor. You have been spontaneously applauded by the man of law, and
sent the man of the air to _faire dodo_. I reckon you get the
laurels."

"Don't you be in such a hurry to award the palm," protested the
Sculptor. "There are some of us who have not spoken yet. I am going to
put some brilliant touches on mine before I give my star performance."

"What's that about stars?" yawned the Youngster, waking up slowly.

"Nothing except that you have given a very distinguished and
unexpected star performance as a sleeper," said the Doctor.

"I say!" he exclaimed, sitting up. "By Jove, is the story of the
Principal Girl all told? That's a shame. What became of her?"

"You'll never know now," said the Doctor.

"Besides," said the Critic, "you would not understand. You are too
young."

"Well, I like your cheek."

"After all," said the Journalist, "it is only another phase of the
Dear Little Josephine, and I still think that is the banner story."

"Me, too," said the Doctor, as we went into the house.

And I thought to myself, "I can tell a third phase--the tragic--when
my turn comes," and I was the only one who knew that my story would
come last.

V

THE SCULPTOR'S STORY

UNTO THIS END

THE TALE OF A VIRGIN

It was on August 26th that we were first sure that the Allied forces
and the German army had actually come in contact. It seemed impossible
for us to realize it, but, in the afternoon the Doctor, the Lawyer,
and the Youngster took one of the cars, and made a run to the
northeast. The news they brought back did not at all coincide with the
hopeful tone of the morning papers. In fact it was not only evident
that the fall of Namur had been followed almost immediately by that of
Mons and Charleroi, but that the German hordes were well over the
French frontier, and advancing rapidly, and the Allied armies simply
flying before them.

The odd part was, that though the Youngster said that they had only
run out fifty miles, they had heard the guns, and "the Doctor
thinks," he added, under his breath, "that we may be able to stick it
out to the last day of the month. Anyway, I advise you girls to look
over your kits. We may fly in a hurry--such of us as must fly."

However, we managed to get through dinner quite gaily. We simply