It seemed however as if it would never get there, and when she reached the Porte de Namur she was too impatient to wait for the connection.

She could not find any gendarme, but at a superior-looking flower-shop she obtained the address of the British Legation.
She asked at the lodge for Mr.Hawk; but there was only a Belgian coachman in charge, and he told her the Minister and his staff had followed the Court to Antwerp.

Mr.Hawk had only left that morning.
"What a nuisance," said Vivie to herself.

"I might have found out from him whether there is any truth in the rumours that are flying about Tervueren." These rumours were to the effect that the Germans had captured all the forts of Liege and their brave defender, General Leman; that they were in Namur and were advancing on Louvain.

"I wonder what we had better do ?" pondered Vivie.
In her bewilderment she took the bold step of calling at the Hotel de Ville, gave her name and nationality, and asked the advice of the municipal employe who saw her as to what course she and her mother had better pursue: leave Tervueren and seek a lodging in Brussels; or retreat as far as Ghent or Bruges or even Holland?
The clerk reassured her.