_Ach, Gott!_ But think of the mornings, think of the mornings!"-- dolefully.
"On the contrary, let us not think of them!"-- with a mock shudder.
And then a pretty woman rose from a chair near-by.

She nodded brightly at the colonel, who bowed, excused himself to Carmichael, and made off after her.
"I believe I stepped on his toe that time," said Carmichael to himself.
Then he looked round for Gretchen.

She was still at the side of the policeman.

She had watched the scene between the two men, but was quite unconscious that it had been set for her benefit.

She came back.
Carmichael stepped confidently to her side and raised his hat.
"Did you get your geese together without mishap ?" he asked.
The instinct of the child always remains with the woman.