"I beg your pardon, gnädige Frau," he stammered at last, with his hand lifted mechanically to his helmet. "I—I did not quite understand——"
"I said that it was a lie," Nora repeated. "Everything you said was a lie. We are not afraid of you, and our soldiers are the best and bravest soldiers in the world!"
The dragoon looked helplessly at Frau von Hollander, and the latter decided on a belated rescue.
"It is most unfortunate," she said with pious regret. "I really quite forgot for the moment. Frau von Arnim was English before her marriage——"
"——and is English still!" Nora interrupted proudly. "Please let me pass. I am going home."
"Then tell the coachman. I cannot let you walk."
Frau von Hollander was now thoroughly alarmed. She felt that the matter had gone too far, and was ready to atone in any possible way. But Nora thrust the detaining hand aside.
"I would rather walk," she said between her clenched teeth. She sprang from the carriage, ignoring the dragoon's offer of assistance. That unfortunate young officer followed her, his face crimson with very real distress.
"Please forgive me, gnädige Frau," he stammered. "How was I to know? Your name was German, and I had no idea—and a fellow talks such rot sometimes. Please forgive me!"
He was so young, so sincere and boyish in his regret that her heart under any other circumstances might have softened. But the insult had fallen on an open wound, and the pain was intolerable.