"Why don't you learn? Mightn't it be useful to you?"
"Useful?"
"Oh, when you get back home. In business perhaps—"
"Ma'am," said the biggest American, leaning earnestly towards her, "let me tell you one thing. If any man comes up to me back in the States and starts on me with that darn language—I'll drop him one."
"And German is easier?"
"Oh, well, German we learn in the schools, you see. How far do you make it to St. Quentin?"
"Are you going there on those Fords?"
"We hope to, ma'am. But we started a convoy of twenty this morning, and these here four cars are all we've seen since lunch."
"I hardly think you'll get as far as St. Quentin to-night. And there's little enough to sleep in on the way. I should stay here." She rose. "I wish you luck. Good-bye."
She thanked them for their coffee, nodded to the quiet French table and went out.