Downstairs they found everyone wildly excited. Even Jasper, who had not been over from England for so many years that he had forgotten his relatives there, was talking volubly to Aunt Pen and passing her sugar for her boiled egg!
"What is it, Aunt Pen?" cried Pat and Renée in one voice.
"My dears--the fighting has stopped--at last!" Mr. Everett answered. He seemed too moved to say more.
"I don't know whether I feel more like praying or shouting," laughed Aunt Pen with two tears rolling down her cheeks.
From the extra which Jasper had brought in Mr. Everett read to them all the terms of the armistice to which Germany had agreed. Melodia and Maggie listened from the door.
"I feel all queer inside!" announced Pat.
Renée's breakfast lay before her, untouched. Aunt Pen, seeing the real distress on the child's face, divined the ache that lay in her heart. So that when Renée, unable to control herself longer, rushed toward the door she felt two quick arms fold about her and draw her close to a friendly shoulder.
"Dearie, tell us! Don't grieve by yourself!"
Then poor Renée buried her face; it was several moments before she could speak.
"I wish I was--there! Home, I mean--poor Susette is old--and has--only Gabriel! We worked so hard--we made a flag, Susette and I, and we tried to make it just like your Stars and Stripes; we put in the thirteen bars, 'cause I had counted--but not--nearly--enough stars! We'd promised Emile when peace came--he said that the Germans would be beaten--we'd hang it from the corner of the roof, 'long side of Gabriel's old French flag! And"--the head went back against Penelope's shoulder--"I'm 'fraid Susette--will forget--and it--will not--be there!"