It proved, however, that they would have to put up with even less. For when they prepared to make the change of cars that was necessary for their return on the Canadian side, one of the men in charge stopped Gretchen.
"You're German," he said.
"Ja," she answered placidly.
"Then you can't come here."
"I can't come here! Why not? I been here many times—I und my young lady."
"No Germans allowed here," he insisted.
"She's my nurse," explained Katharine. "My father's an officer at Fort Edward. He's an American. We are neutral," she insisted.
It was all in vain. The Canadian had his orders and he could not be moved.
"Orders," was all that Katharine could get by way of explanation. Being a soldier's daughter she understood that orders were meant to be obeyed and she did not insist for long.
"It's too bad, but I don't see how we can help it," she said. "I suppose every German is suspected now, but it's silly to think Gretchen is a spy," and she threw her arm around the shoulder of the German woman. She had been frightened by the man's roughness.