It was thoughts like these that they knew they had to conceal.  It was because of thoughts like these that they did not trust themselves to go out and see other people, for they feared that by their looks if by nothing else, or by their silence or perhaps their tears, they might imply a blasphemy against the All Highest.  And hunger made one so hasty.  What might one not say?  And so they stayed indoors.

But now.  What would happen now?  The War Lord was coming to Greinstein in order to hear the guns.  One officer of the staff was to be billeted in their house.  And what would happen now?

They talked the whole thing over.  They must struggle and make an effort.  The officer would be there for one evening.  He would leave in the morning quite early in order to make things ready for the return to Potsdam:  he had charge of the imperial car.  So for one evening they must be merry.  They would suppose, it was Herr Schnitzelhaaser’s suggestion, they would think all the evening that Belgium and France and Luxemburg all attacked the Fatherland, and that the Kaiser, utterly unprepared, quite unprepared, called on the Germans to defend their land against Belgium.

Yes, the old woman could imagine that; she could think it all the evening.

And then, —­ it was no use not being cheerful altogether, —­ then one must imagine a little more, just for the evening:  it would come quite easy; one must think that the four boys were alive.

Hans too? (Hans was the youngest).

Yes, all four.  Just for the evening.

But if the officer asks?

He will not ask.  What are four soldiers?

So it was all arranged; and at evening the officer came.  He brought his own rations, so hunger came no nearer.  Hunger just lay down outside the door and did not notice the officer.

A this supper the officer began to talk.  The Kaiser himself, he said, was at the Schartzhaus.

``So,’’ said Herr Schnitzelhaaser; ``just over the way.’’ So close.  Such an honour.

And indeed the shadow of the Schartzhaus darkened their garden in the morning.

It was such an honour, said Frau Schnitzelhaaser too.  And they began to praise the Kaiser.  So great a War Lord, she said; the most glorious war there had ever been.

Of course, said the officer, it would end on the first of July.

Of course, said Frau Schnitzelhaaser.  And so great an admiral, too.  One must remember that also.  And how fortunate we were to have him:  one must not forget that.  Had it not been for him the crafty Belgians would have attacked the Fatherland, but they were struck down before they could do it.  So much better to prevent a bad deed like that than merely to punish after.  So wise.  And had it not been for him, if it had not been for him...

The old man saw that she was breaking down and hastily he took up that feverish praise.  Feverish it was, for their hunger and bitter loss affected their minds no less than illness does, and the things they did they did hastily and intemperately.  His praise of the War Lord raced on as the officer ate.  He spoke of him as of those that benefit man, as of monarchs who bring happiness to their people.  And now, he said, he is here in the Schartzhaus beside us, listening to the guns just like a common soldier.