"Not to-night."
"We have a nice room here."
"No, thank you."
"Perhaps one of you—"
"No. We are returning to-night,"
"Perhaps, for an hour or two." Then smiling at me and laughing a little, "I have known many officers ... very many."
"No, thank you," I said sternly.
"I have a sister," she said. She turned, crying: "Marie, Marie!"
A little girl, who could not have been more than fourteen years of age, appeared from the background. She also was red-cheeked and plump; her hair also was arranged in black, shining curls. She stood looking at us, half smiling, half defiant, sucking her finger.
"She also has known officers," said the girl. "She would be very glad, if you cared—"