Part 7 (1/2)

”We can get into Liege,” said Paul, rousing himself from his mood of reflection, ”but I'm not sure about staying there. I think you had better take your maid and go to Brussels, Aunt Claire.

The rest of the servants ought to go home, I think.”

It was curious to see how their positions were reversed in this emergency. It was Paul who was in command now, not his aunt.

”Do you think so?” she said. ”Why, Paul?”

”Because I am afraid that there will be hard fighting around Liege. I do not think the town will be defended for very long; it cannot be. It is supposed only to check the German advance, to gain a little time, so that the French and the English, if they come to our aid, may have time to ma.s.s their troops to the west and the north. I am sure Uncle Henri would say I was right, and I can arrange it for you to be sent to Brussels, I am sure.”

Madame de Frenard was a little inclined to smile, in spite of the fire and all the woe it had brought with it.

”Why, Paul, how can you arrange anything?”

she asked. ”Have you, perhaps, suddenly acquired influence with the army?”

”He certainly has!” interrupted Arthur, his eyes s.h.i.+ning. ”Oh, Aunt Claire, we've done so many wonderful things to-night!”

So he let the cat out of the bag, and, with so much of a start, Madame de Frenard was not satisfied until she had the whole story out of them.

She caught her breath when she heard of the shots that had been fired at them, but she looked very proud and happy, too.

”Oh, that was splendid!” she cried. ”We may be a little nation, we Belgians, but we can meet them when even our boys can defy them and outwit them so magnificently! Now I know that I can trust you! Paul, it is as if your uncle were here!

You shall take his place, and I shall do whatever you say is right.”

Paul grew red, and embarra.s.sment checked his speech for a moment.

”It was just luck, of course,” he said, confusedly.

”Anyone could have done what we did, you know. But I'm glad you'll go on to Brussels, Aunt Claire, and I think Major du Chaillu will be glad to make the arrangements, before the railway is interrupted. I will go now and get out the carriages.”

”Very well, Paul, do so. It is lucky that we have those left, at any rate.”

Paul and Arthur helped the men to get out the carriages and harness the horses, frightened by the noise and confusion of the fire. And Paul and Arthur, too, rode in the carriage that took their aunt and her maid into Liege.

”I didn't think we would be coming back to Liege quite so soon,” said Arthur, a little ruefully.

”This isn't as exciting as the first trip we made to-night, either.”

”No, but I think it's safer,” said Paul, rather dryly. ”And there'll be more than enough excitement to make up for it when the Germans come, Arthur.”

”Oh, I suppose so!”

”I am going to take you two boys to Brussels with me,” said Madame de Frenard, suddenly.

Paul was quiet at that; it was Arthur who cried out in vigorous protest.

”Oh, no, Aunt Claire!” he exclaimed. ”There's so much for us to do here!”

”There will be plenty for you to do in Brussels,”

she said, with decision. ”It's settled. I can't allow you to stay here if it isn't safe for me.”

Arthur looked to Paul for help, but Paul only smiled. His aunt looked at him curiously.

”So you are willing to go without arguing, Paul?” she asked.