She was very much afraid of the Major. He was so red-faced and important looking, and had not much good for people below him, and so she waited until at last he left the room. Then she crept quietly to Marianne.
"Please, dear gracious Fräulein," she whispered, "was my grandfather in the battle?"
Marianne was opening her lips to speak, when Otto interrupted:
"Nein, Bettina, nein. Your grandfather...."
"Otto!"
Pauline quickly stopped him, her hand across his mouth.
"No, little Bettina," she said very kindly, "your grandfather was not with the army."
"Will he come, gracious Fräulein, come soon?" Bettina's eyes looked up eagerly.
"Perhaps, child, perhaps." Pauline turned away and picked up some cups from a table.
"Run away, children," she said, "and play until dinner."