“I know it is cruel,” she said, soothingly, “but I don’t see how we can help it. People are sometimes rather unkind to me, too, although I am only half German.”
“Half German,” repeated Fräulein, scornfully; “yes, that is it, you are only half German. You will not help the cause, but I am not afraid; I will work for my country! I——”
“Oh, Fräulein, don’t talk like that,” interrupted Gretel. “It isn’t right. You are an American citizen. If people heard you say such things, you might get into dreadful trouble. Perhaps, after all, you will be happier away from here. I sometimes wish I could go away myself, when Ada—I mean when people say unkind things about Father’s being German; but I am afraid it would be cowardly to ask Percy to let me go home before the end of the term.”
“I have been dismissed,” cried Fräulein, returning to her grievance, “dismissed for no fault, except that I am a German—one of the hated race. I am turned out like a dog; I may starve for aught they care.”
“Oh, that is terrible!” gasped Gretel. “Do you mean that Miss Minton didn’t pay you your salary?”
“Pay! What is pay? Do they think because they offer one a little money everything is to be forgiven and forgotten? Yes, she has paid me for the rest of the season, but how long will that money last, and when it is gone what am I to do? My uncle will only let me share his home while I have money to pay my board, and who will employ a German now that this country has gone mad, and joined our enemies?”
“I know it’s going to be very hard for you,” murmured Gretel. “Percy gives me a very large allowance—much more than I really need—if you would let me help you——”
Fräulein’s face softened.
“You are a dear, generous child,” she said, “but it would never be allowed. If your brother were to find out that you were helping a German, your allowance would be stopped on the instant. Of course, you might be able to keep him in ignorance. I am not thinking of myself but of others. Are you obliged to render an account of how your allowance is spent?”
“No,” said Gretel; “Percy and Barbara are very kind. They never ask how I spend my money, but I always tell them. I couldn’t do a thing I thought they might disapprove of without telling them. It wouldn’t be fair.”