Fräulein spoke so eagerly that Gretel felt very sorry to have to disappoint her hopes.
“I am afraid not,” she said, regretfully; “indeed, I am quite sure they don’t. I am going to help Barbara all I can in her war work, and I really don’t need a companion, you know.”
“No, I don’t suppose you do,” agreed Fräulein, with a sigh. “I only hoped it might be possible. It would be a great joy to me, but alas! I know it cannot be.”
“Let me ring for tea,” exclaimed Gretel, springing from her seat, with a sudden inspiration. “I know you would like some tea. Shall we have it hot or iced?”
Fräulein said she would prefer it iced, and when Gretel returned from giving the order, her friend asked her if she would not play something.
“You were playing when I came in,” she said, “and it was so beautiful to hear the dear German music again. My uncle and aunt are not musical, and I have no money for concerts now.”
Gretel was delighted to comply with this request, and the next half hour slipped away very pleasantly. When the tea was brought in, Fräulein sipped hers leisurely, and ate frosted cakes, while Gretel gave her all the latest school news, in which, however, she did not appear quite as much interested as her young hostess expected. Only once did she manifest any particular interest, and that was when Gretel happened to mention that Molly Chester and Ada Godfrey were both spending the summer at New London.
“Molly has asked me to visit her,” Gretel prattled on. “I should love to go, for I like Molly so much, but I may not be able, as Washington is so far away. Percy and Barbara don’t like to have me travel alone.”
“If they should want some one to travel with you,” said Fräulein, in a tone of suddenly aroused interest, “I should be very glad to offer my services. It might not be convenient to send a maid, and I would not in the least mind going to Washington to meet you.”
Before Gretel could answer, there was another ring at the door-bell, and quite forgetting her visitor for the moment, she eagerly started to her feet.