“But I wasn’t brave,” protested Gretel; “I was terribly frightened all the time. Oh, Jerry, it’s beautiful to have people say such kind things, but I’m afraid they aren’t true, for I really don’t deserve them. It wasn’t brave to refuse to swear not to tell what that man had said. It was just my plain duty. I am an American, you know.”
It was half an hour later. Mr. and Mrs. Douaine had rejoined the young people on the lawn, and they were all having a merry tea together. Gretel looked very happy as she lay back in her steamer-chair, and watched her companions with shining eyes.
“Are you tired, pussy?” her brother asked, anxiously, as he brought her her tea. “You must tell us the moment you begin to feel tired, you know.”
“Not one bit,” Gretel declared heartily. “Oh, Percy, it’s so wonderful to be with you all again, and know that I am safe, and that nothing dreadful is going to happen!”
“You are quite safe,” her brother assured her, smiling, “and you are not a bit happier to know it than we are. So drink your tea while it’s hot, and try not to think about anything except that the Barlows are here, and we are all going to have some good times together. Hello! here comes Dora with the card-tray. Visitors, I suppose. What a bother.”
“I think these must be some people to see you, Gretel,” said Mrs. Douaine, glancing at the cards Dora handed her. “Miss Ada Godfrey and Master Archie Davenport. Isn’t Ada Godfrey one of the Minton girls?”
“Yes,” said Gretel, “and Geraldine said she was coming to Washington, but I didn’t expect to see her so soon. May they come out here, Barbara?”
“Certainly, dear. Show them out, Dora, and bring some fresh tea.”
“I didn’t know the Davenport boy would come with Ada,” remarked Geraldine, looking a little troubled, as Dora tripped away. “He and Jerry weren’t very good friends. Now, Jerry, you will behave, won’t you?”