_A Modern Knight Errant_
"I can't understand why you and Nona are behaving so strangely, Mildred.
You have been whispering together all day. I am sure you are acting more
like foolish school-girls than grown women," Barbara commented in an
annoyed tone.
She was walking alongside her two taller friends with her head held as
high as possible to make up for her lack of dignity in stature. Two
spots of angry color decorated her cheeks.
For neither Mildred nor Nona had condescended to pay any attention to
her remark. Moreover, their whispering continued.
The three girls were walking abreast along one of the suburban roads
that lead into the city of Brussels. It was a long walk, yet horses and
motor cars were only used by the powerful in these days, except in
cases of especial urgency. So as the three Red Cross girls were merely
going into town to report at the Red Cross headquarters, there was no
real reason why they should ride instead of walk.
They had not objected to the walk; indeed, had been glad of the
opportunity. But as Barbara had found herself entirely left out of the
conversation along the way, naturally she was beginning to find the road
a tiresome one.
Brussels has always been thought to be a miniature Paris. Indeed, the
Belgian capital has been modeled on the larger city. But beside its art,
nature has given it the same gayety of spirit and a portion of the same
natural beauty. So it does not seem unreasonable that the two cities
shed their tears together during the great war. Yet the American girls
had witnessed no such gloom in Paris as they found in Brussels.
In Paris one was at least able to talk freely against the enemy, to
gesticulate with the abandon characteristic of the Latin peoples. Here
in the Belgian city one must be dumb, as well as hungry and sick at
heart. To speak one's mind was to offend against His Majesty, the
Kaiser, since everywhere in Belgium the Germans were now in command.
Therefore, as the girls reached the city they too became affected by the
subdued atmosphere. Of course, the people engaged in certain necessary
occupations were about, but trading was very slight. In some of the
cafés there were a few German soldiers. But not many of them were
quartered in Brussels, only a sufficient number to preserve peace and to
enforce a surface loyalty to their conquerors.
Barbara and Nona were in deep sympathy with the Belgians. Barbara
because she was always enlisted on the side of the weak against the
strong. Nona, possibly because as a South Carolina girl, she belonged to
a country that had once been overrun by greater numbers. But Mildred
Thornton and Eugenia insisted that they intended to preserve neutral
attitudes. They were Red Cross nurses, not soldiers, and there is always
another side to every story.
As Nona's attention was so engaged by Mildred, even after the three
girls arrived in Brussels, Barbara had little to do except make
observations. This was not their first trip to the Red Cross
headquarters, but they did not yet know the city sufficiently well not
to enter it as strangers.
Only in one place could Barbara discover a crowd and that was wherever a
church stood. Women and children and an occasional elderly man were
always entering and leaving the Catholic churches.
Suddenly Barbara thought of Eugenia. Why had she not come with them this
afternoon? They had been told to report to the Red Cross headquarters in
order to be assigned to their work. Usually it was Eugenia who rigidly
insisted upon obedience to orders. What could she have in mind this
afternoon of greater importance?
Barbara had paid a visit to Eugenia and the three children earlier in
the day. She had found them contentedly playing at housekeeping in the
one-room shack, which must once have been a small storehouse. By one of
the many miracles of war this little place had escaped destruction when
the larger house was burned.
Eugenia, who was by nature a commander-in-chief, had set the children
various tasks. Bibo, the lame boy, was gathering chips from the charred,
half-burned apple trees as cheerfully as a small grasshopper transformed
into a thrifty ant. The girl, Louise, was assisting Nicolete to spread
their scanty covering upon a freshly washed floor, sedate as a model
chambermaid. Barbara had watched them in some amusement before
attempting to join Eugenia.
It seemed difficult to remember the scarlet poppy of a girl whom she had
first seen dancing for the French soldiers, in the present Nicolete. For
one thing, Eugenia had demanded that the French girl wear sober and
conventional clothes. So gone was her scarlet skirt and cap! Nicolete
now wore an ordinary shirtwaist and skirt and a blue gingham apron. The
clothes had once belonged to Mildred Thornton and Nona had kindly
altered them to fit. Because the three girls had absolutely refused to
allow Eugenia to put her little French protégé into any of her ancient
New England toilets. There were limits to the things an artistic nature
could endure, Barbara had protested.
But why, after all, had Nicolete decided to come away with them from her
own beloved land? It was equally as mysterious to the three other girls
as Eugenia's adoption of the child.
Neither of them had discussed their reasons. As Captain Castaigne soon
after his recovery had been ordered north with his regiment, he was not
able to offer an explanation. The three American Red Cross girls were
simply told that Nicolete had no people of her own and did not wish to
go back to the family who had formerly cared for her.
But after Barbara's survey of the cottage she had returned to the yard
for a talk with Eugenia.
She had found her with the little Belgian baby in her arms walking about
the ruined house.
Even here in the streets of Brussels, with so many other objects to
absorb her attention, Barbara again found herself wondering at the
change in Eugenia. She did not seem to care to be in their society as
she had in the earlier part of their acquaintance. Nevertheless, she was
no longer so stern and dictatorial. Today she had asked Barbara's advice
quite humbly about a number of things. Yet she had refused point-blank
to tell what she intended doing on this same afternoon.
But Barbara's reflections were suddenly ended by their arrival in front
of a handsome house in Brussels. It was a private mansion that had been
given over to the relief work by General von Bissing, the German
military governor of Belgium.
They found the place crowded. In the hall there was a long line of
Belgians waiting assistance. Yet the girls felt almost at home, there
were so many of their own country people about.
However, they were invited to wait in a small reception room until the
Superintendent could find time for them.
The buildings in Brussels have so far remained uninjured by the war.
For although fighting had taken place all around the city, the surrender
came before its destruction.
The girls were ushered into what had once been an attractive sitting
room. At one side there was a small sofa and here Nona and Mildred
straightway seated themselves without regarding their friend.
So once more Barbara felt hurt and left out of things. By chance there
was no chair near the sofa, but by this time she was far too much
wounded to try to force herself into the conversation.
However, Barbara at least felt privileged to use her eyes. For some
mysterious reason both Mildred and Nona were looking unusually cheerful.
This was certainly odd in view of the fact that everything they had seen
since coming into Belgium was more than depressing. Yet Barbara decided
that Nona was uncommonly gay and excited. Her eyes were a darker brown
than usual and her cheeks had more color. There could be little doubt
that she was exceptionally pretty most of the time and even prettier
than usual today. Moreover, Mildred had lost her serious expression. Her
fine white teeth flashed every moment into a smile. Animation was what
Mildred most needed and she had her full share today.
"Shall we tell Barbara now?" Distinctly Barbara overheard Mildred
Thornton whisper these few words. Yet in return Nona shook her head so
decisively that Mildred evidently changed her mind.
When the door to their sitting room opened Barbara had again fallen into
a reverie. She heard some one enter the room, but supposing the man a
messenger did not glance up.
Barbara's exclamation of surprise was due to the surprising behavior of
her two companions.
For Mildred and Nona at once jumped to their feet, and actually Mildred
ran forward a few steps with her arms outstretched.
In amazement Barbara at this moment turned her gaze upon the newcomer.
Immediately her face flushed and the tears started to her eyes, yet she
would rather have perished than let either effect be discovered.
However, she had only seen a young American fellow of about twenty-two
or three years of age, dressed in a dark-blue serge suit. He looked
extremely well and handsome, except for the fact that his left arm was
apparently paralyzed.
By this time Mildred had thrown her arms about his neck and they were
kissing each other with devoted affection.
"I can't say how happy I am to see you, Dick. It is the most beautiful
thing that ever happened to have you here in Belgium with us! I have
scarcely been able to wait until today, and then I was so afraid you
would not arrive in time."
All this from the usually quiet Mildred!
However, Dick Thornton had finally ceased greeting his sister and turned
to Nona Davis. Nona seemed as glad to see him as Mildred. She held his
hand for some time and kept insisting upon her pleasure in meeting him
again.
Nevertheless, after Nona's greeting had occupied as long a time as
possible, Barbara Meade made not the slightest effort to step forward
and welcome her former friend.
Certainly his arrival explained Mildred's and Nona's mysterious
behavior. Yet what reason could there have been for not telling her they
expected Richard Thornton's appearance in Brussels on this particular
afternoon? She had not offended against any one of the three of them,
that she should have been so ignored!
It was a very stiff Barbara whom Dick finally walked across the room to
greet: Eugenia at her best could never have appeared more uncomprising.
With his hand extended Dick involuntarily paused, while a curious
expression showed on his face.
"Aren't you pleased to see me, Barbara--Miss Meade?" he corrected
himself. "I have not recovered, but I've found out that I can be of some
little use with the relief work here in Brussels with one arm. But
besides wishing to be useful, I have four attractions to bring me to
Belgium."
Dick spoke in his old light-hearted fashion, although Barbara could see
that a part of it was pretense.
"Of course, I am glad to see you," she returned slowly. "But since I
have been left out of the secret of your coming, you must understand
that I am more surprised than anything else at present."
"Oh, certainly," Dick answered, letting his arm drop to his side. For
Barbara had apparently not seen his extended hand.
"Dick was uncertain whether he could be of service and so asked us not
to speak of his coming until he was positive," Mildred apologized. "I
wanted to tell you, Barbara, but Nona felt it best not to. She had the
last letter with instructions from Dick."
Barbara glanced toward Nona and then at Dick. Assuredly there was an
understanding between them. Well, she must learn not to mind the feeling
of being ignored since it would probably continue for some time to come.