was perhaps the song that came most from her heart at the moment, although she and her little companions had been trying to learn it for several weeks past. [Pg 169] [Pg 169] Then when the German officers were within a few yards of her, Eugenia got up and walked quietly forward. She did not go alone though, because Jan held on to her skirts so tightly that there was no possibility of tearing him loose. "Will you wait a moment, please, until the children can be taken to another part of the yard?" Eugenia asked quietly. "Some of them are very young and will only be terrified and confused by our conversation. I think most of them are afraid of soldiers." There was no reproach in the girl's tone as she said this. But the sting was inevitably there. However, the older of the two officers bowed his head and Nicolete led the reluctant children away. By this time Barbara had placed herself at one side her friend next to little Jan. And poor Monsieur Bebé, hearing the voices, had crept blindly forward to within a few feet of the little company. In the meantime the soldiers had divided: two of them stood before the front door[Pg 170] and two had retired to the rear of the house. The other four guarded either side. [Pg 170] "You are under arrest, Fraulein," the German officer began. He was stern, but rigidly polite. "Very well," Eugenia answered. "In five minutes I can be ready to go with you. But tell me, please, of what I am accused." "You are accused of harboring a Belgian spy, a Colonel Carton, who got back through the lines, disguised as a German soldier and into his wife's home in Brussels. His effort was to obtain certain papers and information and then return to King Albert and the British Allies. We have reason to believe Colonel Carton is still in your house." The officer at this instant drew a pair of handcuffs from his pocket. Naturally Eugenia flinched, yet she held out her hands. "Your intention is to search my house. You will, of course, do what you wish. But remember that I am an American citizen and under the protection of the United States flag." [Pg 171]
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