“You were very kind,” the girl returned. “I did not imagine you would know me again, but perhaps it is because I am an American.”
Just as if he had been a young man and an everyday one, General Alexis smiled, and Mildred was no longer afraid of him.
“Oh, I may remember you, Miss Thornton, for other reasons. But to be truthful it is because you are an American that I am taking this opportunity to talk to you again.”
This time the Russian officer hesitated.
“You will not mention what I am going to say to any persons except your two American friends,” he added, not as a request, but as a command.
“Miss Thornton, as soon as it is possible for convenient arrangements to be made for you I want you to know that I intend having you sent back to Petrograd. You must of course have a safe escort or I should have seen to the matter sooner.”
Ordinarily Mildred Thornton possessed unusual self-control, but the surprise, indeed, the shock of the speech, took her unawares.
She had not dreamed that she and Barbara and Nona had been such complete failures in their Red Cross work. Why, after their several years of war experience they had felt themselves of perhaps unusual value in the Russian nursing. So far as she knew there had been no complaints of their work, only praise. But in any case how could their failures have reached General Dmitri Alexis’ ears? It seemed incredible that he should ever be annoyed with such trifling concerns.
“Just as you wish,” Mildred answered quietly, yet with greater personal dignity than any one of the other American Red Cross girls could have summoned. “We have done our best to help with the nursing. If we have failed it is, of course, wisest that we should return to Petrograd. Afterwards we can go home to the United States.”
“Failed in your nursing? And it is for that reason you believe I wish to have you sent away from my fortress?”