speaking a little nervously. [73] But Barbara, who was very difficult to awe, walking calmly in, seated herself in one of the empty chairs. “Certainly we must stay here until you are rested and feeling a little stronger. You can scarcely stand up and I don’t wonder, after being on your feet for hours, the first day after our trip. I am awfully tired myself. No one is coming back to this room for the present; the soldiers and officers are too busy. If anyone does appear we must simply explain. I am curious anyhow to know how Eugenia managed to bring us here without introducing us to anyone. Perhaps the French people in this neighborhood are becoming accustomed to Americans taking possession of their homes.” Barbara talked quietly and without any suggestion of possible embarrassment, really because she had no idea that anyone would discover them before Eugenia came down. She was therefore more surprised and embarrassed than Mollie at an unexpected noise just outside the open door. [74]However, both girls jumped to their feet looking conscience stricken. [74] The young solder at the door uttered a low whistle, took off his wide-brimmed hat and then made a low bow. “Do you know,” he began, “I was as mad, well, we will say mad as a March hare, although that was not my original speech over being sent here to clean up my superior officers’ quarters. I came over to France, you know, to fight Germans, not to act as a housemaid. But, of course, if I had any idea that Lieutenant Martin was giving a reception, why before his guests arrived——” The young private was over six feet tall, had fine white teeth and broad shoulders and at this moment his eyes were so full of surprise and amusement that no one would have thought of their color. “But we are not guests and we are going right away,” Barbara stammered. “For goodness sake don’t let anyone else find us here!” Barbara was older and married and, of course, should have been the more self-possessed[75] of the two intruders. But somehow Mollie experienced an immediate understanding and sympathetic appreciation of the situation existing between her and the newcomer. [75]
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