"We both brought the glad tidings together.

Madame, dearest mistress, you are glad, are you not ?" But Madame Dort was silent for the moment.

Her eyes were closed, and her lips moving in earnest prayer of thankfulness to Him who had heard her prayers and granted the fervent wish of her heart at last.
"Is it really true ?" she asked presently.
"Yes, well-born and most worthy lady," replied the little fat man, whom Lorischen now allowed to speak without further interruption.

"Our Bismark signed an armistice with the French at Versailles on Saturday by which Paris capitulates, the forts defending it being given over to our soldiers, and the starving city allowed to be reprovisioned by the good English, who have prepared ever so many train-loads of food to go in for the use of the population." "Ah, those good English!" chimed in Lorischen.
"You have reason to say that, dearest maiden," continued the Burgher, bowing suavely to the old woman.

"They subscribed, ah! more than a million thalers for this purpose in London." "And I suppose the war will now cease ?" said Madame Dort.
"Most certainly, worthy lady," replied Burgher Jans.