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a blend of all the heroic women who had killed for the common weal。 Her savage fury made her continue her imaginary slaughter； dagger in hand。 Second stroke！the Crown Prince rolling to one side and his head to the other。 A rain of dagger thrusts！all the invincible generals of whom her aunt had been boasting fleeing with their insides in their handsand bringing up the rear； that fawning lackey who wished to receive the same things as those of highest rankthe uncle from Berlin。 。 。 。 Ay； if she could only get the chance to make these longings a reality！
〃You are mad；〃 protested her mother。 〃Completely mad！ How can a ladylike girl talk in such a way？〃 。 。 。
Surprising her niece in the ecstasy of these delirious ravings； Dona Elena would raise her eyes to heaven； abstaining thenceforth from communicating her opinions； reserving them wholly for the mother。
Don Marcelo's indignation took another bound when his wife repeated to him the news from her sister。 All a lie！ 。 。 。 The war was progressing finely。 On the Eastern frontier the French troops had advanced through the interior of Alsace and Lorraine。
〃ButBelgium is invaded； isn't it？〃 asked Dona Luisa。 〃And those poor Belgians？〃
Desnoyers retorted indignantly。
〃That invasion of Belgium is treason。 。 。 。 And a treason never amounts to anything among decent people。〃
He said it in all good faith as though war were a duel in which the traitor was henceforth ruled out and unable to continue his outrages。 Besides； the heroic resistance of Belgium was nourishing the most absurd illusions in his heart。 The Belgians were certainly supernatural men destined to the most stupendous achievements。 。 。 。 And to think that heretofore he had never taken this plucky little nation into account！ 。 。 。 For several days； he considered Liege a holy city before whose walls the Teutonic power would be completely confounded。 Upon the fall of Liege； his unquenchable faith sought another handle。 There were still remaining many other Lieges in the interior。 The Germans might force their way further in； then we would see how many of them ever succeeded in getting out。 The entry into Brussels did not disquiet him。 An unprotected city！ 。 。 。 Its surrender was a foregone conclusion。 Now the Belgians would be better able to defend Antwerp。 Neither did the advance of the Germans toward the French frontier alarm him at all。 In vain his sister…in…law； with malicious brevity； mentioned in the dining…room the progress of the invasion； so confusedly outlined in the daily papers。 The Germans were already at the frontier。
〃And what of that？〃 yelled Don Marcelo。 〃Soon they will meet someone to talk to！ Joffre is going to meet them。 Our armies are in the East； in the very place where they ought to be； on the true frontier； at the door of their home。 But they have to deal with a treacherous and cowardly opponent that instead of marching face to face； leaps the walls of the corral like sheep…stealers。 。 。 。 Their underhand tricks won't do them any good； though！ The French are already in Belgium and adjusting the accounts of the Germans。 We shall smash them so effectually that never again will they be able to disturb the peace of the world。 And that accursed individual with the rampant moustache we are going to put in a cage； and exhibit in the place de la Concorde！〃
Inspired by the paternal braggadocio； Chichi also launched forth exultingly an imaginary series of avenging torments and insults as a complement to this Imperial Exhibition。
These allusions to the Emperor aggravated Frau von Hartrott more than anything else。 In the first days of the war； her sister had surprised her weeping before the newspaper caricatures and leaflets sold in the streets。
〃Such an excellent man。 。 。 so knightly 。 。 。 such a good father to his family！ He wasn't to blame for anything。 It was his enemies who forced him to assume the offensive。〃
Her veneration for exalted personages was making her take the attacks upon this admired grandee as though they were directed against her own family。
One night in the dining room； she abandoned her tragic silence。 Certain sarcasms； shot by Desnoyers at her hero； brought the tears to her eyes； and this sentimental indulgence turned her thoughts upon her sons who were undoubtedly taking part in the invasion。
Her brother…in…law was longing for the extermination of all the enemy。 〃May every barbarian be exterminated！ 。 。 。 every one of the bandits in pointed helmets who have just burned Louvain and other towns； shooting defenceless peasants； old men； women and children！ 〃
〃You forget that I am a mother；〃 sobbed Frau von Hartrott。 〃You forget that among those whose extermination you are imploring； are my sons。〃
Her violent weeping made Desnoyers realize more than ever the abyss yawning between him and this woman lodged in his own house。 His resentment； however； overleapt family considerations。 。 。 。 She might weep for her sons all she wanted to； that was her right。 But these sons were aggressors and wantonly doing evil。 It was the other mothers who were inspiring his pitythose who were living tranquilly in their smiling little Belgian towns when their sons were suddenly shot down； their daughters violated and their houses burned to the ground。
As though this description of the horrors of war were a fresh insult to her； Dona Elena wept harder than ever。 What falsehoods！ The Kaiser was an excellent man。 His soldiers were gentlemen； the German army was a model of civilization and goodness。 Her husband had belonged to this army； her sons were marching in its ranks。 And she knew her sonswell…bred and incapable of wrong…doing。 These Belgian calumnies she could no longer listen to 。 。 。 and； with dramatic abandon； she flung herself into the arms of her sister。
Senor Desnoyers raged against the fate that condemned him to live under the same roof with this woman。 What an unfortunate complication for the family！ 。 。 。 and the frontiers were closed； making it impossible to get rid of her！
〃Very well； then；〃 he thundered。 〃Let us talk no more about it。 We shall never reach an understanding； for we belong to two different worlds。 It's a great pity that you can't go back to your own people。〃
After that； he refrained from mentioning the war in his sister…in… law's presence。 Chichi was the only one keeping up her aggressive and noisy enthusiasm。 Upon reading in the papers the news of the shootings； sackings； burning of cities； and the dolorous flight of those who had seen their all reduced to ashes； she again felt the necessity of assuming the role of lady…assassin。 Ay； if she could only once get her hands on one of those bandits！ 。 。 。 What did the men amount to anyway if they couldn't exterminate the whole lot？ 。 。 。
Then she would look at Rene in his exquisitely fresh uniform； sweet… mannered and smiling as though all war meant to him was a mere change of attire； and she would exclaim enigmatically：
〃What luck that you will never have to go to the front！ 。 。 。 How fine that you don't run any risks！〃
And her lover would accept these words as but another proof of her affectionate interest。
One day Don Marcelo