It was very still, as Molly had said, and in a few moments the singing began again, the chorus of men’s voices sounding out sweet and clear over the silent harbor. The four girls sat listening to one well-known song after another: “Tipperary,” “Bid Me Good-Bye With a Smile,” and “Keep the Home Fires Burning.” It was too far away for them to distinguish the words, but they all knew the tunes, and by and by they began to sing themselves. But though Gretel was fond of singing, and had a fairly good little voice of her own, she did not join in the choruses, as usual.
“Why don’t you sing, Gretel?” Geraldine asked at last. “You know ‘Over There,’ don’t you?”
“Yes, I know it,” Gretel answered, softly; “but I don’t feel just like singing to-night. I’m thinking about those boys on the ship. They sound so merry and happy, just as if war were nothing but a big joke. And yet, in a little while, they may all be fighting, and perhaps——” Gretel paused, abruptly, with an only half-suppressed sob.
“I don’t believe they think very much about serious things,” said Kitty.
“Some of them do, I am sure,” said Gretel, unsteadily, “but when people are brave they can pretend not to mind things, and help others by being cheerful. I think to be brave is one of the grandest things in the world.”
“Even greater than being a great musician like your father?” Kitty asked.
“Yes, even greater than that,” said Gretel, gravely.
Just then Jerry and Paul, who had been spending the evening at one of the neighbors’, returned, and in a few minutes Mrs. Chester called them all indoors.
When they awoke the next morning the big battle-ship was no longer to be seen. She had slipped quietly out to sea during the night.