THE TALE OF A VIRGIN


It was on August 26th that we were first sure that the Allied forces
and the German army had actually come in contact. It seemed impossible
for us to realize it, but, in the afternoon the Doctor, the Lawyer,
and the Youngster took one of the cars, and made a run to the
northeast. The news they brought back did not at all coincide with the
hopeful tone of the morning papers. In fact it was not only evident
that the fall of Namur had been followed almost immediately by that of
Mons and Charleroi, but that the German hordes were well over the
French frontier, and advancing rapidly, and the Allied armies simply
flying before them.

The odd part was, that though the Youngster said that they had only
run out fifty miles, they had heard the guns, and "the Doctor
thinks," he added, under his breath, "that we may be able to stick it
out to the last day of the month. Anyway, I advise you girls to look
over your kits. We may fly in a hurry--such of us as must fly."

However, we managed to get through dinner quite gaily. We simply could
not realize the menace, and the Doctor evidently meant that we should
not. He was in gayer spirits than he had been since the days of the
great discussions, and after the few facts he had brought back were
given us, he kept the talk on other matters, until the Sculptor, who
had been lying back in his chair, blowing smoke rings in the air,
stretched himself into his most graceful position, and called
attention even to his pose, before he threw his cigarette far from him
with a fine gesture, settled his handsome head into his clasped hands,