of an "unpleasant" scene which would be described in other drawing-rooms next day.
But Miss Clutter had adopted Ethel's method of enquiry. She so much wanted to know the German point of view. Certainly they must have a point of view.
"Yes, it would be so interesting to know!" said another lady.
"Especially if we could believe it," said another.
Elsa had been twisting and re-twisting a little lace handkerchief in her lap. She was very pale, and tried to conceal a painful agitation from all these hostile and enquiring ladies.
Then she spoke to them in a low, strained voice.
"You will never understand," she said. "You look out from England with eyes of hate, and without pity in your hearts. The submarine warfare was shameful. There were little children drowned on the Lusitania, and women. I wept for them, and prayed the dear God to stop the war. Did you weep for our little children, and our women? They too were killed by sea warfare, not only a few, as on the Lusitania, but thousands and tens of thousands. Your blockade closed us in with an iron ring. No ship could bring us food. For two years we starved on short rations and chemical foods. We were without fats and milk. Our mothers watched their children weaken, and wither, and die, because of the English blockade. Their own milk dried up within their breasts. Little coffins were carried down our streets day after day, week after week. Fathers and mothers were mad at the loss of their little ones. 'We must smash our way through the English blockade!' they said. The U-boat warfare gladdened them. It seemed a chance of rescue for the children of Germany. It was wicked. But all the war was wickedness. It was wicked of you English to keep up your blockade so long after Armistice, so that
