REFUGEES
If I were to tell you all the strange new sights that Jan and Marie saw, and all the things they did in England, it would make this book so big you could not hold it up to read it, so I must skip all about the great house in the southern part of England where they next found themselves.This house was the great country place of a very rich man, and when the war broke out he had given it to be used as a shelter for homeless Belgians.There were the most wonderful woods and parks on the estate, and miles of beautiful drives.There were great gardens and stables and hothouses; and the house was much bigger and finer than any Jan and Marie had ever seen in all their lives.It seemed to them as if they had suddenly been changed into a prince and princess by some fairy wand.They were not alone in all this splendor; other lost little Belgian children were there, and there were lost parents, too, and it seemed such a pity that the lost parents and the lost children should not be the very ones that belonged together, so that every one could be happy once more.However, bad as it was, it was so much better than anything they had known since the dreadful first night of the alarm that Jan and Marie became almost happy again.
At night they and the other homeless children slept in little white cots set all in a row in a great picture gallery.They were given new clothes, for by this time even their best ones were quite worn out, and every day they had plenty of good plain food to eat.Every day more Belgians came, and still more, until not only the big house, but the stable and outbuildings were all running-over full of homeless people.One day, after they had been in this place for two or three weeks, Jan and Marie were called into the room where sat the sweet-faced lady whose home they were in.It was like an office, and there were several other persons there with her.
The sweet-faced lady spoke to them."Jan and Marie," she said, "how would you like to go to live with a dear lady in America who would love you, and take care of you, so you need never be lonely and sad again?""But our mother!" gasped Marie, bursting into tears."We have not found her!""You will not lose her any more by going to America," said the lady, "for, you see, we shall know all about you here, and if your mother comes, we shall be able to tell her just where to find you.Meanwhile you will be safe and well cared for, far away from all the dreadful things that are happening here.""It is so far away!" sobbed Marie.
Jan said nothing; he was busy swallowing lumps in his own throat.
"You see, dears," the lady said gently, "you can be together there, for this woman has no children of her own, and is willing to take both of you.That does not often happen, and, besides, she is a Belgian; I know you will find a good home with her.""You're sure we could be together?" asked Jan.
"Yes," said the lady.
"Because," said Jan, "Mother said I must take care of Marie.""And she said she'd find us again if she had to swim the sea,"said Marie, feeling of her locket and smiling through her tears.
"She won't have to swim," said the lady."We will see to that! If she comes here, she shall go for you in a fine big ship, and so that's all settled." She kissed their woebegone little faces.