"God knows where they are!" exclaimed the old man, trembling. "There were two other girls, sixteen and eighteen, and their father and mother—all of us happy and working hard to keep together. The father and the two girls were compelled by the Germans to report at the Chateau—they took them to Germany to work—God, what will they do with my girls?" Here the old man moaned piteously.
"The mother died since of a broken heart," said the old woman, continuing the story her husband was not able to finish. "Would to God they were all dead! We'll soon go, too. Who'll take her?" she asked, pointing to the frightened child.
Venna patted the child's head.
"She'll be well taken care of—by the Red Cross."
"Will she?" asked the old woman eagerly. "That's a piece of comfort to know."
Venna felt she was lingering too long.
"I must be back to Noyon at a stated time, so I must not stay as long as I would like to," she said. "Come, tell me some things you need. You surely need something?"
"Everything," replied the woman hopelessly. "We need windows—it's so cold—every one is broken."
Venna's heart ached. Even her money could not buy glass here!
"We can't get glass," she said, "but I'll come with help in a day or two, and we'll try to bring something that will keep the cold out."