But independent thought is never turned
towards her political destinies. Those are shaped for her. For
good or for evil her children have learnt obedience."
They were descending the hillside now. At their feet lay the little
town, black and silent.
"You have helped me to understand a little," Philippa said. "You
put things so gently and yet so clearly. Now tell me, will you not,
how it is that you, who are a Swede by birth, are bearing arms for
Germany?"
"That is very simple," he confessed. "My mother was a German, and
when she died she bequeathed to me large estates in Bavaria, and a
very considerable fortune. These I could never have inherited
unless I had chosen to do my military service in Germany. My family
is an impoverished one, and I have brothers and sisters dependent
upon me. Under the circumstances, hesitation on my part was
impossible."
"But when the war came?" she queried.
He looked at her in surprise.
"What was there left for me then?" he demanded. "Naturally I heard
nothing but the voice of those whom I had sworn to obey. I was in
that mad rush through Belgium. I was wounded at Maubeuge, or else
I should have followed hard on the heels of that wonderful retreat
of yours. As it was, I lay for many months in hospital. I joined
again--shall I confess it?--almost unwillingly.
Pages:
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82