BARBARA IN BRITTANY

CHAPTER I. AUNT ANNE. Barbara entered the nursery with rather a worried look on her face. Aunt Anne is co!in" to#!orrow$ children$ she announced. To#!orrow% e&clai!ed a fair#haired boy$ risin" fro! the window#seat. 'h$ I say$ Barbe$ that(s really rather hard lines##in the holidays$ too. )ust as we were *re*arin" to ha+e a really e&citin" ti!e$ si"hed ,rances$ who was her brother(s close co!*anion and ally. I know it(s a little hard$ Barbara said consolin"ly$ sittin" down beside the! and takin" one of the twins on her la*$ while the other leaned u* a"ainst her. But you will all try to be "ood and nice to her$ won(t you- .he went away with a bad o*inion of us last ti!e$ and it worries !other. Besides$ we !ustn(t for"et that she was father(s sister. I can(t think how she e+er ca!e to be$ si"hed ,rances. .he(s so dreadfully *articular$ and we always see! nau"htier when she(s here. But we(ll !ake an effort$ Barbara. And you won(t run away as soon as she s*eaks to you$ /ucy- Barbara went on$ lookin" at the little "irl in her la*. It(s rude$ you know. 0ou !ust try to talk nicely when she wants you to. 0es1 and the child nodded. 'nly she does see! to !ake a lot of concussions when she co!es. 0ou !ean discussions$ 2onald corrected. 0ou shouldn(t use words you don(t understand$ /ucy. But I !ust say I a"ree with you1 I know she always raises !y corru*tion. 3hat% "as*ed Barbara. Raises !y corru*tion$ re*eated her brother1 that(s a "ood old .cottish e&*ression that I(+e 4ust found in a book$ and it

!eans##(!akes you an"ry.( 3ell$ don(t use it before Aunt Anne$ there(s a dear$ Barbara ur"ed$ "ettin" u*. .he thinks we use 5uite enou"h 5ueer e&*ressions as it is. I(ll s*eak like a re"ular infant *rodi"y. But surely you(re not "oin" yet- 0ou(+e 4ust co!e% I !ust hel* to "et thin"s ready for Aunt Anne$ Barbara said "aily$ for she had reco+ered her s*irits since *rocurin" the children(s *ro!ise of "ood beha+iour. I(ll co!e to you later. Barbara is really rather an an"el$ re!arked 2onald after she had "one. It(s not !any sisters would sla+e in the house$ instead of ha+in" another !aid$ to let a fellow "o to a decent school. 0ou(re 5uotin" !other$ ,rances re*lied$ han"in" out of the window in a dan"erous *osition1 but$ of course$ it(s true. If I only had ti!e I(d write a fascinatin" ro!ance about her. I(ll read e+ery *a"e of it and buy a hundred co*ies$ her brother *ro!ised "allantly1 but$ as he knew that there was nothin" ,rances hated !ore than writin"$ he felt *retty safe. 'f course$ he *ursued$ Aunt Anne thinks !other s*oils us. I don(t 5uite think that##it(s 4ust that she(s so nice and sy!*athetic with us when we(re nau"hty$ and Aunt Anne doesn(t understand that. But still$ to *lease Barbe$ and as we(+e *ro!ised$ we !ust try to be res*ectable and "ood this ti!e. Re!e!ber$ twins% The twins were not noted for lon" !e!ories$ but their intentions were "ood$ and the first day of Aunt Anne(s +isit *assed +ery well$ the children re!e!berin" to rub their feet on the !at$ shut the door softly$ and not fid"et at !eals. But the e&ertion see!ed too !uch for the!$ and the second day be"an rather boisterously$ and did not i!*ro+e as it went on. After lunch$ when the twins ca!e into the drawin"#roo!$ /ucy drew a footstool near her aunt$ and sat down !eekly u*on it$ thinkin" that the sooner Aunt Anne be"an to talk the sooner it would be o+er. Aunt Anne was feelin" al!ost as !uch e!barrassed by the *resence of so !any children as they were by that of their aunt$ but her sense of duty was stron"$ and she be"an to !ake con+ersation with the one nearest her##who ha**ened to be /ucy.

3hat are you doin" in lessons now$ /ucy/ucy looked sole!n. Chiefly history$ she said. ,rances lau"hed. It(s only stories$ she e&clai!ed$ that Barbara tells her and 2ick. It(s history$ re*eated /ucy indi"nantly1 isn(t it$ 2ick- It(s all about En"land. I should ha+e thou"ht writin" was !ore suitable for a little "irl like you. ,rances o*ened her !outh to retort$ but cau"ht a warnin" "lance fro! Barbara and subsided. Then con+ersation lan"uished and /ucy looked across lon"in"ly at her sister$ to see if she had done her duty. But not bein" able to catch her eye$ she si"hed$ and su**osin" she had not yet fulfilled her *art$ cast about in her !ind for so!ethin" else to say. 2o you li+e far fro! here- she be"an suddenly$ starin" at her aunt. 6uite a lon" way$ 7iss Britton re*lied. In 3ales##*erha*s you know where that is'h$ yes$ e&clai!ed /ucy$ risin" in her e&cite!ent. It(s where the ancient Britons were sent. Barbara told us about the!. 'h$ *lease Aunt Anne$ aren(t you an ancient BritonAunt Anne s!iled "ri!ly. No$ I a! not. They li+ed in 5uite the olden ti!es$ and were clothed in skins. But are you sure- *ressed the child. It(s 4ust the skins see! wantin". They were dri+en into 3ales$ and surely you(re a Briton and co!e fro! the olden ti!es. 0ou(re really 5uite ancient aren(t you$ Aunt AnneBarbara was thankful her aunt lau"hed$ but she was not so "lad that 2onald and ,rances found their lau"hter so irre*ressible that they had to resort to the sofa#cushions1 and when the twins were dis!issed a

little later by 7rs. Britton$ she was rather relie+ed to see the! follow. But fro! that !o!ent the s*irit of hilarity see!ed to ha+e fallen u*on all the children$ and Barbara looked re"retfully at the fallin" rain and wondered how she should kee* the! occu*ied for the rest of the day##for it was 4ust the be"innin" of the holidays$ when they were usually allowed a "ood deal of liberty. .he knew by the noise that *resently sounded fro! u*stairs that they had be"un hide#and#seek$ and she read disa**ro+al of the u*roar in her aunt(s face$ and went u*stairs to su""est so!ethin" else. The children "ood#te!*eredly betook the!sel+es to soa* bubbles$ ,rances consentin" to fetch the tray to kee* thin"s tidy if 2onald would take it back1 and Barbara left the!$ con"ratulatin" herself that they were safely settled o+er so!ethin" 5uiet. It was$ therefore$ surely an e+il fate that !ade Aunt Anne be"in to "o u*stairs later in the afternoon$ 4ust as 2onald was descendin" ra*idly with the tray##not in his hand. I 8a!8 so sorry$ he said$ "ettin" u* in dis!ay after his ra*id slide. 3hat a co!fort I didn(t knock you o+er1 but it(s so !uch the 5uickest way of brin"in" a tray down. I#### Ha+e you e+er tried itIf he had not been considerably a"itated he would not ha+e asked such a foolish 5uestion$ and *erha*s if Aunt Anne had really not "ot a se+ere fri"ht she would not ha+e been so !uch annoyed. But as it was$ she stalked *ast hi! without sayin" a word and went u* to her roo!. There% he said ruefully$ I(+e done it$ and I really did !ean to be "ood. The incident subdued the! all considerably$ and Barbara ho*ed that now they !i"ht "et to the end of the +isit without any further !isha*s. But ne&t !ornin" at breakfast that ho*e was banished$ for her aunt ca!e downstairs with such an e&*ression of annoyance u*on her face$ that e+ery one knew so!ethin" really un*leasant was co!in". Is anythin" wron"- 7rs. Britton asked an&iously. 2id you not slee* well##or##surely the children did not##annoy you in any way- 9isions of a**le#*ie beds were floatin" before her !ind$ althou"h the children(s looks of innocence so!ewhat reassured her on that *oint. .o!e one has annoyed !e considerably$ Aunt Anne said coldly$ by interferin" with !y clothes. 3hen I ca!e to *ut on !y blue blouse this !ornin"$ I found that e+ery other one of the sil+er buttons had been

cut off. There was a "as* of astonish!ent$ and Barbara was 4ust about to scorn the notion that any of the children could ha+e been concerned in the !atter$ when her eyes fell on 2ick(s face. 7iss Britton was lookin" in the sa!e direction. I should think that little boy knows so!ethin" about it$ she said. 2ick% 7rs. Britton e&clai!ed$ for he was usually the least a*t of the three to "et into !ischief. 2ick$ what did you do it for- Tell us why you did it- Barbara 5uestioned ea"erly$ and the little boy was 4ust about to re*ly when 7iss Britton s*oke a"ain. I should think he had no reason at all e&ce*t wanton !ischief. Perha*s he used the buttons for !arbles1 there cannot be any real reason for such a silly deed$ thou"h he !ay !ake one u*. 3ell$ why did you do itBarbara saw the obstinate e&*ression that they dreaded cree*in" o+er the little boy(s face at her aunt(s words$ and knew that now they would *robably "et nothin" satisfactory fro! hi!1 but she was not 5uite *re*ared for the answer that ca!e so defiantly. I did it for orna!ent$ of course. There was silence for a !o!ent1 then 7rs. Britton sent the little boy to the nursery to stay there till he was sent for. I 8a!8 so sorry$ Anne$ she said in distress. I cannot think what has !ade hi! do it. It is 4ust the result of your u*brin"in". I always said you were absurdly indul"ent to the children. Then$ because Barbara was sure that 2ick had had so!e other reason that would *erha*s ha+e e&*lained his action$ and because she saw tears in her !other(s eyes$ and knew how lonely and tired she often felt$ and how an&ious about the welfare of the children and the care of the house$ she turned wrathfully u*on her aunt. 0ou ha+e no ri"ht to criticise !other like that$ Aunt Anne$ and$ of course$ she knows a "reat deal !ore about brin"in" u* children than you

do. If you had not interfered$ 2ick would ha+e "i+en the *ro*er reason$ and$ certainly$ if we do what we shouldn(t it(s 8our8 fault$ not !other(s. At this there were confir!atory nods fro! the children$ who continued to "a:e in startled$ but ad!irin"$ astonish!ent at Barbara$ whose *oliteness was usually their e&a!*le$ and who! they hardly reco"nised in this new role. They awaited##they knew not what##fro! their aunt$ but e&ce*t for a horrified cry of Barbara% fro! 7rs. Britton$ the "irl(s outburst was recei+ed in silence$ her aunt !erely shru""in" her shoulders and continuin" her breakfast. The children finished theirs in unco!fortable silence$ then sli**ed 5uietly away. 3ell% 2onald said ruefully$ when ,rances and he had cli!bed into the a**le#tree where they usually discussed !atters of i!*ortance. .he did look fine$ didn(t she- But I(! afraid she(s done it now. Aunt will clear out soon enou"h$ I should think$ and Barbe will 4ust be as sorry as can be to ha+e flared out like that at a "uest$ and father(s sister too. In that last su**osition 2onald was 5uite ri"ht$ for 7rs. Britton needed to say nothin" to !ake Barbara feel +ery !uch asha!ed of herself. But in his conclusion about his aunt he was 5uite wron"$ for$ to the children(s astonish!ent$ 7iss Britton showed no si"ns of s*eedy de*arture. Indeed$ later in the day$ the children felt honesty de!anded they !ust own her to be rather a brick$ for she acce*ted Barbara(s a*olo"y with "ood "race$ and said that thou"h$ of course$ she had been rude$ she would not deny that there had been so!e *ro+ocation$ and that if Barbara could find out anythin" !ore fro! 2ick$ she would be "lad to hear of it. It was then$ after !uch !anoeu+rin"$ that the "irl "ot to the truth of the !atter$ which 2ick related with tears. He had taken the buttons for !other$ he said. 3hen he was out with her the other day they had looked for 5uite a lon" ti!e at so!e beautiful sil+er ones$ and when he asked his !other why she did not buy the!$ she had said she had not enou"h !oney 4ust then. They were +ery like the kind on Aunt Anne(s blouse$ and ha+in" noticed that she did not use half of the! to button it u*$ 2ick had not seen any reason why they should be left on##althou"h he had !eant to tell her what he had done i!!ediately after breakfast. 7iss Britton acce*ted the e&*lanation$ and said she thou"ht there was no need for the cul*rit to be *unished this ti!e$ and she ho*ed he would ha+e !ore sense soon. But about Barbara she had so!ethin" of

!ore i!*ortance to co!!unicate. In !y o*inion$ she said$ in a !anner that inferred she e&*ected her ad+ice to be taken$ the "irl is !uch too youn" to ha+e finished her education##boys or no boys##and I a! thinkin" of sendin" her to ,rance for a ti!e$ to learn !ore of the lan"ua"e and see so!ethin" of the world. It is not "ood for a "irl of her a"e to ha+e so !uch res*onsibility. Now$ it had been Barbara(s drea! to "o abroad$ but after the first "as* of deli"ht and astonish!ent she "rew "ra+e$ and said she was afraid she could not lea+e her !other and the children. ,iddlesticks% Aunt Anne re*lied$ without allowin" 7rs. Britton ti!e to s*eak. 0ou are far too youn"$ !y dear$ to i!a"ine yourself of such i!*ortance in the world. I will send a "ood old#fashioned nurse that I know of to take your *lace$ and it will be "ood for the children to ha+e a stricter re"i!e than yours has been for a while. E+en if Aunt Anne had been accusto!ed to ha+e her words disre"arded##which she was not##7rs. Britton would not ha+e needed !uch *ersuasion to !ake her fall in with the *ro*osal$ for she had often "rie+ed in *ri+ate o+er the fact that$ since her husband(s death$ Barbara(s education had had to suffer that 2onald(s !i"ht ad+ance. And now$ thou"h she wondered how she would "et on without her eldest dau"hter$ she was only too thankful to ha+e such an o**ortunity thrown in her way. I cannot think why I ne+er interfered before$ 7iss Britton said$ but it is better late than ne+er$ and we will ha+e as little delay now as *ossible. In a few days the children were all as busy as bees hel*in" to "et Barbara ready. They assisted in choosin" her new frocks and hats$ and the style of !akin"1 and *oor 7iss .!ith$ who ca!e to sew for her$ was nearly distracted by their *o**in" in e+ery now and then to see how she was "ettin" on. E+en 2onald$ who hated talkin" about "irls( fashions$ bou"ht a *a*er$ because he saw it had a *attern of a blouse ad+ertised$ and he thou"ht it !i"ht be useful. The fa!ily were +ery curious to hear with who! she was "oin" to ,rance and where she was "oin" to be$ for Aunt Anne had undertaken to !ake all the arran"e!ents$ and it certainly was a sli"ht shock to the children when she wrote to say she had !ade u* her !ind to "o herself for a fortni"ht to Paris before sendin" Barbara off to Brittany$ where she

had found a !ost suitable *lace for her in the house of two !aiden ladies who took in *eo*le wantin" to learn ,rench. 2onald whistled when 7rs. Britton read that out. ,ancy a fortni"ht with Aunt Anne$ and then the two !aiden ladies. )i""ers% ;that was a fa+ourite e&*ression of his<## you(ll be worried out of your life$ Barbe. The worst of it was$ that Aunt Anne$ who had not been abroad for !any years$ said she was "oin" to let Barbara !ana"e the 4ourney and the si"ht#seein" in Paris$ and sent her a "uide#book to read u* e+erythin" of interest. .he said she was doin" this to "i+e her niece e&*erience and *re*are her for bein" by herself later on1 but 2onald declared she wanted to see what kind of stuff she was !ade of$ and that if Barbara did not do thin"s well$ she would scoff at her "reatly for thinkin" she could !ana"e a house and children while she could not succeed in findin" her way about ,rance. But I know the old lady$ and we(ll 4ust show her you(re 8our8 sister$ and before we(+e done you(ll know that "uide#book fro! co+er to co+er$ he assured her. They had only a week left$ for Aunt Anne was +ery ra*id in her decisions and *lans1 but they studied the "uide#book !ornin"$ noon$ and ni"ht. It was !ost instructi+e holiday work$ 2onald said$ and when Barbara had not ti!e to read it$ ,rances and he read for her and *oured their knowled"e into her ears at !eal#ti!es. They learned what coloured o!nibus went to the different *arts of Paris$ and on what days different buildin"s were o*en$ and by the end of the week they all felt they could *ersonally conduct tours all o+er Paris. It was rather hard when the last day ca!e$ because they knew that the house would see! horribly e!*ty without Barbara. The two little ones were on the +er"e of cryin" all the afternoon$ and ,rances had to be +ery stern$ while 2onald rose to fli"hts of wit hitherto undrea!ed of$ to kee* u* e+ery one(s s*irits. 'f course the two elder ones knew it would be hardest on the! after Barbara left$ because so!e of her res*onsibility would fall on their shoulders. But they were 5uite deter!ined she should ha+e a cheerful send#off ne&t !ornin"$ so they bribed the children with *ro!ises of sweets if they did not cry$ and they succeeded in "i+in" her 5uite a

hilarious "ood#bye at the station. After the train had "one$ howe+er$ and they turned ho!ewards$ ,rances felt that if she had not *ro!ised Barbara to hel* her !other she would ha+e hidden herself in the attic and cried$ althou"h that would ha+e been so horribly babyish for a "irl of twel+e that she knew she would ha+e felt asha!ed of herself afterwards1 thou"h *erha*s$ her *illow could ha+e told tales of a "rief confided to it that the "ay#hearted ,rances did not usually indul"e in.

CHAPTER II. N'. => RUE .T. .UP/ICE. 7eanwhile$ Barbara and her aunt *ursued their 4ourney$ and in due ti!e arri+ed at Newha+en$ where the first thin" they were told was that the tide was unusually low at 2ie**e$ which would *re+ent the! enterin" that harbour$ and therefore they were not "oin" to lea+e Newha+en for another hour and a half. Aunt Anne "a:ed in indi"nation u*on their infor!ant$ and declared it was scandalous that a boat$ ti!ed to lea+e at a certain hour$ should be so irre"ular and un*unctual1 whereu*on the ca*tain$ shru""in" his shoulders$ said that the lady should co!*lain to the !oon about the tides rather than to hi!. They !ana"ed to fill in the ti!e +ery well with lunch$ howe+er$ and after a little "ru!blin"$ Aunt Anne resi"ned herself to ,ate$ thou"h she was "lad enou"h when they finally stea!ed out of the harbour. 7iss Britton was not a +ery "ood sailor$ and in *re*aration for the +oya"e$ as she called the crossin"$ had accu!ulated "reat stores of knowled"e as to how to treat seasickness. .he established herself on the u**er deck$ let down a deck#chair as low as it would "o$ and re*lacin" her hat by a weird little Ta! o( .hanter$ co+ered her eyes with a handkerchief. To a+oid seasickness$ Barbara$ she said$ you !ust lie as flat as *ossible$ kee* the eyes closed$ and breathe in corres*ondence with the shi*(s !otion##thou"h$ she added$ I really cannot tell at *resent which is its !otion1 *erha*s there will be !ore when we "et farther out. Barbara chuckled$ but deferred !akin" si!ilar *re*arations until the !otion 8was8 !ore defined$ for she was !uch too interested in what was

"oin" on around her to close her eyes to it all. Aunt Anne asked her at inter+als if it was "ettin" rou"her$ but thou"h her niece assured her there were no si"ns of such a thin"$ she did not +enture to sit u* until they were 5uite near 2ie**e. 'h$ aunt% Barbara e&clai!ed 4oyfully$ 4ust look at all the officials in their hi"h#*eaked hats. 2on(t they look nice$ so ,renchy and forei"n% 0ou would hardly e&*ect the! to look 8En"lish8$ Aunt Anne returned drily$ and be"an to "ather to"ether her belon"in"s *re*aratory to lea+in" the boat. It is so!e ti!e since I ha+e been in ,rance$ Barbara$ she e&clai!ed$ ha+in" been 5uite contented with our own beautiful land1 but I re!e!ber it was best to be +ery 5uick in "oin" to the train so as to "et "ood seats. ,ollow !e closely$ child. Barbara obediently did as she was told$ and ha+in" "ot safely throu"h the troubles of the 8douane8$ they chose their carria"e and *roceeded to arran"e their *ossessions. 7y u!brella% Aunt Anne cried suddenly$ lookin" an&iously on the racks and under the seat. Barbara$ I !ust ha+e left it on the boat1 why did you not re!ind !e- 0ou !ust 4ust run back for it now##but don(t let the train "o without you. Run$ child$ run% Barbara obediently hurried away$ and after a haltin" and so!ewhat len"thy e&*lanation on the 5uay$ was allowed to "o on board a"ain$ and s*ied the !issin" u!brella on the deck. 3hen she returned$ the train had been !o+ed hi"her u*$ and she could not distin"uish the carria"e anywhere. The "uard was already be"innin" to wa+e the si"nal$ and Barbara felt she was a lost *assen"er$ when a dark$ stout little !an dashed u* to her and sei:ed her by the ar!. Par ici$ *ar ici$ he cried$ +otre !a!an +ous attend$ !ade!oiselle$ and they flew down the *latfor! with the "uard shoutin" warnin"s behind the!. They were barely in ti!e$ and Barbara sank *antin" into her seat. ,ancy% Aunt Anne cried indi"nantly## fancy "ettin" lost like that% It 4ust shows that you are not fit to look after children when you cannot !ana"e an u!brella% Barbara was too breathless to re*ly and too !uch a!used$ *erha*s$

really to !ind. The country was *retty enou"h$ but it soon be"an to "row dusk$ and they wondered when they would arri+e in Paris. The train was due at ?.@A$ but there did not see! to be the least chance of "ettin" in at that hour$ for$ late as they already were$ they continued to lose ti!e on the way. The little ,rench!an was their only co!*anion$ and he did not see! to know !uch En"lish. Howe+er$ between his shreds of that lan"ua"e and Barbara(s scanty ,rench she !ana"ed to find out that they would not arri+e in Paris until !idni"ht. Aunt Anne e&*ressed her annoyance in no !easured ter!s$ but he !erely shru""ed his shoulders and s!iled$ until she colla*sed into a corner s*eechless with dis"ust. He left the! at Rouen$ and Barbara$ watchin" her aunt slee*in" in a corner$ wondered what they would do when they finally did arri+e at the station. But$ as soon as the li"hts of the 8Bare de /a:are8 showed throu"h the darkness$ 7iss Britton be"an to bestir herself$ and$ when the train sto**ed$ !arched boldly out of the carria"e as if she had been in Paris do:ens of ti!es. In a little while they were seated in a 8fiacre8$ "oin" alon" throu"h bri"htly#li"hted streets$ feelin" +ery satisfied that they were actually nearin" their destination. But their content did not last lon"$ for soon lea+in" the li"hted thorou"hfares$ they turned into a dark road with hi"h walls on either side$ and 4ust a la!* now and then. It really see!ed rather lonely$ and they both be"an to feel unco!fortable and to wonder if they were bein" taken to the wron" *lace. .tories of !ysterious disa**earances be"an to flit throu"h Barbara(s brain$ and she started when Aunt Anne said in a +ery e!*hatic tone$ He looked a +ery nice cab!an$ 5uite res*ectable and honest. 0es$ Barbara said !eekly$ thou"h she had hardly noticed hi!. I knew it was so!e distance fro! the station$ of course. 0es$ Barbara re*lied once !ore$ and added$ of course$ as 7iss Britton be"an to look rather fierce. It was a little stu*id of you not to think of *ro*osin" to stay in the station hotel while I was collectin" the wra*s$ she went on rather shar*ly$ and Barbara was tryin" to think of so!ethin" soothin" to say$ when the cab drew u* suddenly and they were both *reci*itated on to the hat#bo&es on the other seat. Barbara *ut her hat strai"ht and looked out of the window. It certainly see!ed to be a funny *lace to which they had co!e. The

houses were hi"h and narrow$ and the one they had sto**ed at had a dirty archway without a sin"le li"ht1 but$ as the dri+er showed no intention of "ettin" down and rin"in"$ Barbara ste**ed out and "ro*ed about for a bell or a knocker of so!e kind. Then the cab!an$ *ointin" with his whi* u* the archway$ said$ Nu!ero 5uator:e$ *ar lC. The "irl did not !uch relish "oin" into the darkness by herself$ for she was sure there !ust be so!e !istake. But she was afraid that$ if 7iss Britton "ot out too$ the !an !i"ht dri+e away and lea+e the!$ so she be""ed her aunt to re!ain in the cab while she went into the archway to !ake in5uiries. After so!e "ro*in" she found a bell#ro*e$ and ran" three ti!es without recei+in" any answer. .he was 4ust about to rin" a"ain$ when she heard stealthy ste*s a**roachin" the door$ and the ne&t !o!ent it was o*ened$ disclosin" to her fri"htened "a:e a dirty#lookin" !an$ wearin" a red ni"htca*$ and carryin" a candle in his hand. Barbara recoiled a ste*$ for thou"h she had been sure there was so!e !istake she had not e&*ected anythin" as bad as this. Howe+er$ she !ana"ed to "as* out$ 7ada!e Bel+oir(s- and was intensely relie+ed to see the fellow shake his head. But he leered at her so horribly that she waited to !ake no !ore in5uiries$ but turned and fled back to the 8fiacre8. This is not the ri"ht *lace$ she *outed$ and I(! thankful it isn(t##there(s 8such8 a horrid !an. A !an% But she was a widow$ Aunt Anne said +a"uely1 and her niece could not hel* lau"hin"$ for if that 8were8 the case there !i"ht ha+e been brothers or sons. But the cab!an was "ettin" +ery i!*atient$ and it was not an easy !atter to ar"ue with hi!$ for when they insisted that this could not be => Rue .t. .ul*ice$ he !erely shook his head and *ersisted that it was. Then suddenly a li"ht see!ed to break u*on hi!$ and he asked$ => Rue .t. .ul*ice$ CourcellesBarbara shook her head +iolently$ and said$ Non$ non$ Neuilly. 3hereu*on with !uch "ru!blin" and torrents of words that$ *erha*s$ it was as well she did not understand$ he whi**ed u* his horse$ and she had hardly ti!e to scra!ble into the cab before they swun" off. They were +ery "lad to lea+e the nei"hbourhood$ for they saw the red ni"htca* *ee*in" out at the end of the archway$ and it see!ed as if there were !ore friends of the sa!e kind in the rear. It is 8!ost8 absurd for the !an to think 8we8 should ha+e been stayin"

here. I think he !ust be !ad. 0es$ returned Barbara$ not knowin" what else to say$ and they continued to ru!ble o+er !ore cobble stones and down dark roads$ till they finally sto**ed in a di!ly#li"hted street$ which$ howe+er$ was broad and clean$ with fairly lar"e houses on either side. Barbara "ot out with so!e !is"i+in"s$ wonderin" what their fate would be this ti!e. .he had to rin" se+eral ti!es as before1 but as there was no dark archway$ and the cab was close by$ she had not the sa!e fear. 3hen the door o*ened$ she could distin"uish nothin" at first$ but *resently es*ied a little wo!an$ in a 8white8 ni"htca*$ holdin" a candle. 2ear !e% she thou"ht$ candles and ni"htca*s see! to be the fashion here1 but aloud$ !erely asked *olitely for 7ada!e Bel+oir$ ho*in" that she was not s*eakin" to the lady in 5uestion. Before the 8*ortiDre8 ;for it was she< could answer$ a bri"ht li"ht shone out at the far end of the *assa"e$ and a "irl ca!e hurryin" down$ sayin"$ 7ada!e Bel+oir7ais oui$ entre:$ entre:. C(est 7ade!oiselle Britton$ n(est#ce *as7ade!oiselle Britton was not a little relie+ed$ and so$ I a! sure$ was her *oor aunt$ who ca!e hurryin" out of the cab$ and was so "lad to "et rid of it that she *aid the ten francs the !an de!anded without a !ur!ur. The ,rench "irl e&*lained in broken En"lish that her !other "reatly re"retted bein" absent$ ha+in" been called away suddenly to an uncle who was ill$ but that she and her sister would do their ut!ost to !ake 7iss Britton co!fortable. By that ti!e they had reached the end of the *assa"e and were led into a co!fortable roo!$ where another "irl was waitin". Tea was ready for the! too$ and Barbara thou"ht she had ne+er a**reciated it !ore. .he tried to e&*lain the reason of their late arri+al$ and told so!e of their ad+entures1 but$ althou"h both the ,rench "irls listened *olitely and s!iled and nodded$ Barbara thou"ht that neither of the! understood !uch of what she said. Howe+er$ she did not !ind that$ and *resently they led the way u*stairs to a roo! that was a ha+en of deli"ht to the wanderers. The windows o*ened on to a "arden whence the scent of lilac floated$ and the whole roo!##down to the hearth#brush$ which char!ed Barbara##was decorated in blue. 3ith the !e!ory of that other Rue .t. .ul*ice still fresh in their !inds$ their *resent 5uarters indeed see!ed deli"htful1 and Barbara

declared she could ha+e fallen u*on the necks of both "irls and kissed the!. A 5uite unnecessary and !ost i!*ertinent *roceedin"$ Aunt Anne re*lied curtly. They will !uch *refer *ounds$ shillin"s$ and *ence to e!braces$ and Barbara thou"ht that after all she was *robably ri"ht.

CHAPTER III. A N'CTURNA/ A29ENTURE. It was +ery nice to waken the ne&t !ornin" and find the sunshine strea!in" in at the windows. Barbara was ready to be char!ed with e+erythin"$ fro! the *retty little !aid in the !ob ca*$ who carried in the breakfast$ to the cris* rolls and coffee. Both of the tra+ellers were 5uite rested$ and ea"er to be"in si"ht#seein"$ and 7iss Britton left the choice of *lace to her niece. The latter dili"ently scanned the "uide#book as she took her breakfast$ and ke*t callin" out fresh su""estions e+ery few !o!ents1 but$ finally$ they deter!ined on the /ou+re as !ost worthy of their first +isit. I do not know whether it was the e&*erience of the ni"ht before$ but Aunt Anne see!ed to ha+e a fi&ed idea that Paris was full of thie+es$ and before startin" out she !ade the !ost careful *re*arations for encounterin" *ick*ockets. .he sewed so!e of her !oney into a little ba" inside her dress$ *ut so!e !ore into a *ocket in her underskirt$ and said that Barbara !i"ht *ay for thin"s in "eneral$ as it would teach her the use of ,rench !oney. .he herself ke*t only a few centi!es in a shabby *urse in her dress *ocket$ to disa**oint any thief who took it. As soon as the 8fiacre8 sto**ed in the court of the /ou+re$ they were besie"ed by se+eral disre*utable and seedy#lookin" !en wantin" to act as "uides throu"h the "alleries. Partly to "et rid of the rest$ *artly because they thou"ht it !i"ht be easier$ they en"a"ed the tidiest#lookin" one who see!ed to know !ost En"lish$ and$ feelin" rather *leased with the!sel+es$ entered the first "allery. 'f course$ Barbara wished to be"in by seein" those *ictures which she had heard !ost about1 but the "uide had a *articular way of his own of takin" *eo*le round$ and did not like any interference.

Indeed$ he did not e+en like to let the! stay lon"er than a few seconds at each *icture$ and ke*t chatterin" the whole ti!e$ till at last they "rew annoyed$ and Aunt Anne told hi! they would do the rest by the!sel+es. But it took so!e ti!e to "et rid of hi!$ and then he went sulkily$ co!*lainin" that they had not "i+en hi! enou"h$ thou"h Barbara felt sure he had really "ot twice as !uch as was his due. They en4oyed the!sel+es +ery !uch without hi!$ and saw a "reat deal before lunch#ti!e. At the end of the !eal$ when Aunt Anne was "oin" to take out her *urse to use the centi!es in it for a ti* for the waiter$ she disco+ered her *re*arations had not been in +ain$ and that the *urse really had been stolen. Perha*s$ on the whole$ she was rather "lad$ for she turned to Barbara in triu!*h. There now$ Barbara$ she said$ if I had had !y other *urse in !y *ocket$ it would ha+e been 4ust the sa!e$ and now whoe+er has it will be *ro*erly disa**ointed% They did not return to Neuilly until the e+enin"$ where they !et the rest of the *ension at dinner. Besides two brothers of the Bel+oir fa!ily$ there were a nu!ber of ,rench +isitors and one En"lish fa!ily$ to who! 7iss Britton and her niece took an i!!ediate dislike. The father$ who$ they were told$ was a solicitor whose health had broken down$ was "reedy and +ul"ar$ and his son and dau"hter were *ale$ fri"htened#lookin" creatures$ who took no *art in the "ay con+ersation which the ,rench ke*t u*. After dinner$ when e+ery one else went into the salon for !usic$ the solicitor and his children retired to their roo!s$ which 7ade!oiselle Bel+oir and her brothers see!ed to resent. The for!er confided to Barbara$ in +ery 5uaint En"lish$ that they had ne+er had such *eo*le in their house before$ and Aunt Anne$ who o+erheard the re!ark$ shook her head sa"ely. I would not trust the!$ 7ade!oiselle ;7iss Britton was En"lish fro! the sole of her foot to the ti* of her ton"ue<. They see! un*leasant$ and I ha+e a "reat *ower for readin" faces. At which 7ade!oiselle Bel+oir !ur!ured so!ethin" about wishin" her !other were back. Howe+er$ the e+enin" was a *leasant one$ thou"h Barbara was so tired that she was hardly an intelli"ent listener to the !usic *ro+ided$ and fell aslee* as soon as her head touched the *illow.

.he was$ therefore$ a little sur*rised when she awoke suddenly two hours later for a**arently no reason at all. .he had been drea!in" about so!ethin" e&citin"$ and lay tryin" to re!e!ber what it was$ when an eerie feelin" stole o+er her$ and it see!ed as if she heard breathin"##which was not her aunt(s##close beside her. .he did not dare to !o+e for a !o!ent. Then she turned her head +ery "ently$ and between the two windows near the recess she was sure she saw a dark fi"ure. The lon"er she watched the surer she beca!e$ and she knew it could not be her aunt$ who! she heard breathin" 5uietly in the other bed. It was certainly a horrible sensation$ and all the un*leasant stories she had e+er read crowded into her !ind. At first she could not think what to do$ but at last !ade u* her !ind to "o across the roo! to 7iss Britton(s bed and tell her. 0awnin"$ and *retendin" to wake u* "radually$ thou"h all the ti!e she felt as if she had been lyin" there for hours$ she called out$ Aunt Anne$ I can(t slee*$ so I(! co!in" into your bed. 7iss Britton awoke at once##she was a li"ht slee*er##and at first I think she i!a"ined her niece was !ad. If you can(t slee* in your own bed$ she said$ I(! 5uite sure you won(t slee* in !ine$ for it(s not bi" enou"h for two. But Barbara *ersisted$ and at last her aunt "a+e way. 3ell$ she said at last$ rather crossly$ be 5uick if you are co!in". I don(t want to be ke*t awake all ni"ht. The truth was$ it see!ed so horrible to cross the roo! close to that black fi"ure##as she would ha+e to do##that Barbara lin"ered a !o!ent$ screwin" u* her coura"e. It was hard$ certainly$ to walk slowly across$ for she thou"ht she should not run$ feelin" all the ti!e as if two hands would catch hold of her in the darkness. .he was +ery "lad to cree* in beside her aunt$ and at first could not do anythin" but lie and listen to that lady(s "ru!blin"s. Then warnin" her not to screa!$ she whis*ered +ery softly that there was a !an beside the window. 7iss Britton took it wonderfully coolly$ and after the first start said nothin" for a few !inutes. Then she re!arked in loud$ cheerful tones$ 3ell$ child$ as you are not slee*y$ let us talk about our *lans for to#!orrow. They talked a lon" ti!e$ ho*in" that the !an would "i+e it u* and "o1

but still the black fi"ure stood there !otionless. At last Barbara$ who could bear it no lon"er$ said 'h$ aunt$ since we can(t slee* let us *ut on the li"ht and read u* thin"s in the "uide#book. At that !o!ent she heard a rustle behind$ and saw the !an try to "et into the recess1 but the trunks were there$ and !eetin" that obstruction$ he turned and !ade a 5uick dash to the ,rench window$ and was out in a !o!ent$ whereu*on Aunt Anne and Barbara sat u* in bed and screa!ed. Then the "irl lea*ed to the electric li"ht$ and her aunt to the bell$ and in a few !o!ents the !aids and the 7isses Bel+oir ca!e runnin" in. He(s "one% cried Barbara$ lookin" out of the window and feelin" 5uite bra+e now that so !any *eo*le had arri+ed. He(s "one$ and it was too dark to see his face. Aunt Anne$ !eanwhile$ e&*lained$ as well as she could$ what had ha**ened$ and the 7isses Bel+oir looked so fri"htened and worried that Barbara felt she !ust be a dreadful nuisance. But they were +ery nice and e&tre!ely a*olo"etic$ declarin" that such a thin" had ne+er ha**ened before$ and that the *olice should be told in the !ornin"$ and their brothers would search the "arden at once and sit outside their door all ni"ht if 7iss Britton liked. But Aunt Anne$ who had deli"htful co!!on#sense$ said briskly## Nonsense1 whoe+er it was$ he will be too fri"htened to think of co!in" back to#ni"ht$ so 4ust "o to your beds$ and let us "et to ours. And she *ushed the! "ently out. They continued to !ur!ur a*olo"ies after the door was shut1 but Aunt Anne *aid not the least heed. Now$ !y dear$ she said$ turnin" to Barbara$ I a! sure you know that what I said to the! is 5uite true$ and that our friend will not return to#ni"ht. .o be sensible$ and "o back to bed$ and we will talk about it all in the !ornin". 'f course$ Barbara did as she was told$ and$ thou"h she was sure she would ne+er "et to slee*$ stran"e to say$ in a +ery little while she was drea!in" *eacefully$ and did not waken till late ne&t !ornin".

CHAPTER I9.

THE 7AN IN B/UE B/A..E.. The nocturnal ad+enture caused 5uite an e&cite!ent in the house$ and +ery little else was talked of at lunch#ti!e. Aunt Anne had asked 7ade!oiselle Bel+oir if she would rather nothin" was said about the affair1 but the "irl said it was i!*ossible to kee* it 5uiet$ as se+eral *eo*le had heard the bustle in the ni"ht$ and were an&ious to know all about it. .o 7iss Britton found that she and her niece were ob4ects of "eneral interest$ and they both stru""led nobly to describe the ad+enture intelli"ibly to the others$ thou"h Barbara knew that she "ot horribly !i&ed in her ,rench tenses$ and was not 5uite sure whether she understood all the 5uestions the ,rench *eo*le *ut to her. The solicitor annoyed her !ost##he was so su*erior. 3hy did you not rush u*on the fellow and screa! for hel*- he said. I was far too fri"htened to do anythin" of the kind$ Barbara answered indi"nantly. I would ne+er ha+e dared to flin" !yself u*on a dark fi"ure like that. If I had seen hi!$ I shouldn(t ha+e !inded so !uch. .o you did not see his face- said the solicitor. 'f course I didn(t$ and Barbara s*oke rather crossly. If I had$ I should ha+e "one and described hi! to the *olice the first thin" this !ornin". .he felt inclined to add that it was a *ity he could not inculcate his own children with so!e of his a**arent coura"e$ for they both see!ed far !ore fri"htened than interested in the story$ and the son(s eyes looked as if they would 4u!* out of his head. Perha*s the *oor youth was scolded for his ti!idity afterwards$ for when Barbara *assed their roo! in "oin" u*stairs to "et ready to "o out$ she heard the father s*eakin" in +ery stern tones$ and the boy !ur!urin" *iteously$ 'h$ father% oh$ father% 7iss Britton was in a hurry to "et out1 but$ as often ha**ens$ it *ro+ed a case of !ore haste$ less s*eed$ for they had 4ust "ot into the street when Barbara re!e!bered she had left her *urse behind$ and had to run back for it. 3hat was her astonish!ent on o*enin" the bedroo! door to see the solicitor(s son standin" near the window. .he had co!e u*stairs +ery softly$ and he had not heard her till she was in the roo!1 then he turned round suddenly$ and s*ran" back with a face filled with terror.

3hat 8are8 you doin" here- she e&clai!ed in astonish!ent$ and at first he could not answer for fri"ht. I##I##ca!e to look at the *lace where the !an was last ni"ht$ he "as*ed at last$ and to see how he could "et out of the window. 3ell$ I think your curiosity has run away with your *oliteness$ Barbara said. 0ou !i"ht ha+e seen fro! the "arden that the balcony is 5uite close enou"h to the tree for any one to "et out easily. Is there anythin" else you would like to e&a!ine.he need hardly ha+e asked$ for he had hurried round to the door before she had half finished s*eakin"$ and$ only !ur!urin"$ I(! sorry$ fled *reci*itately. .he was really rather sorry for hi!1 he looked so ab4ectly !iserable. Ne+ertheless$ she took the *recaution of lockin" the door and *uttin" the key under the !at. .he went downstairs !ore slowly than she had co!e u*$ for the boy(s +isit had !ade her feel rather 5ueer. The way he shrank back into the window when she ca!e in had re!inded her so !uch of the !anner in which the black fi"ure had acted in the ni"ht$ and she felt there was so!ethin" uncanny about the whole thin". Howe+er$ she !ade u* her !ind to say nothin" to her aunt 4ust then in case of s*oilin" her afternoon(s *leasure$ but she was 5uite deter!ined to !ake so!e rather *ointed re!arks to the solicitor that e+enin" when no one else was listenin"$ and see how he took the!. Unfortunately$ howe+er$ she had no o**ortunity of doin" so$ for when they went down to dinner$ none of the solicitor(s fa!ily were +isible$ and 7ade!oiselle Bel+oir re!arked that they had all "one out to the theatre$ and would not be back till late. The re!arks$ Barbara su**osed$ !ust be *ost*oned till the !orrow1 but$ alas% she ne+er had a chance of !akin" the!$ for early on the !orrow the whole house learned that the solicitor$ with his son and dau"hter$ had "one$ with a**arently no intention of returnin". 7ade!oiselle Bel+oir and her brother had waited u* till lon" after the ti!e they should ha+e returned$ and then the brother had hurried to the 8*rEfecture8 to re*ort the !atter. He had been "rowin" +ery sus*icious of late$ as the solicitor had not *aid anythin" for three weeksF 3aitin" for his che5ue#book$ which had been !islaid$ he had said. But the sus*icions had been acted on too late$ and his !other was cheated out of e+er so !uch !oney. E+ery one was hi"hly indi"nant$ and 7iss Britton and her niece really felt +ery "rie+ed that they should

ha+e been 8British8 sub4ects who had beha+ed so badly. Aunt Anne said she al!ost felt as if she ou"ht to *ay for the! and sa+e the honour of their country$ but Barbara thou"ht that would be too 5ui&otic. At first 7ade!oiselle Bel+oir thou"ht there !i"ht be so!ethin" inside the !an(s trunks that would re*ay the! a little for the !oney lost1 but$ on bein" o*ened$ there *ro+ed to be nothin" but a few old clothes$ and 7ade!oiselle and her brothers re!e!bered that the boy had often "one out carryin" *arcels$ which they used to lau"h at. 3hen all this was bein" discussed$ Barbara thou"ht she !i"ht as well tell about findin" the boy in her roo!$ and she !entioned her sus*icions that he and the nocturnal +isitor were one and the sa!e *erson$ and found to her sur*rise that the Bel+oirs had thou"ht the sa!e. Poor thin"s% Barbara was heartily sorry for the!$ for it was an un*leasant occurrence to ha**en in a 8*ension8$ and !i"ht !ake a difference to the! in future$ a*art fro! the fact that they could hear nothin" of the lost !oney$ nor yet of the runaways. Barbara felt that hitherto her ad+entures in ,rance had been 5uite like a story#book$ and knew that when her brother 2onald heard of the! he would be !akin" all kind of wonderful *lans for the disco+ery of the !iscreants. He would fancy hi!self an a!ateur detecti+e at once$ she said to her aunt. 3hereu*on that lady returned "ri!ly she would "ladly beco!e a detecti+e for the ti!e bein" if she thou"ht there was any chance of findin" the wretches$ but that such *eo*le usually hid their tracks too well. Ne+ertheless$ Barbara noticed that she eyed her fellow#!en with "reat sus*icion$ and one day she *ersisted in *ursuin" a stout "entle!an with blue "lasses$ who! she declared was the solicitor in dis"uise$ till he noticed the! and be"an to be ner+ously a"itated. I(! sure it isn(t he$ aunt$ Barbara whis*ered$ after they had followed hi! successfully fro! Notre 2a!e to .t. Etienne$ and fro! there to Na*oleon(s To!b. He s*eaks ,rench##I heard hi!. Besides$ he is too stout for the solicitor. He !ay be *added$ Aunt Anne said wisely. Peo*le of that kind can do anythin". There is so!ethin" in his walk that assures !e it 8is8 he$ and I 8!ust8 see hi! without his s*ectacles. Barbara followed rather unwillin"ly$ thou"h she could not hel* thinkin" with a!use!ent how the fa!ily would lau"h when she wrote and described her aunt in the role of a detecti+e. .he was not to be +ery

successful$ howe+er$ for$ as they were saunterin" after hi! down one of the "alleries of the 7useu!$ the blue#s*ectacled "entle!an suddenly turned round$ and in a torrent of ,rench asked to what *leasure he owed 7ada!e(s close interest$ which$ if continued$ would cause hi! to call u* a 8"endar!e8. If you think to steal fro! !e$ I a! far too well *re*ared for that$ he concluded. .teal% Aunt Anne echoed indi"nantly. 83e8 are certainly not thie+es$ sir$ whate+er 8you8 !ay be. Barbara was thankful that a**arently his knowled"e of En"lish was so sli"ht that he did not understand the re!ark. It was not without difficulty that she *re+ailed u*on her aunt to *ass on and cease the wordy ar"u!ent$ which$ she *ointed out$ was not of !uch "ood$ as neither understood the other(s lan"ua"e sufficiently well to answer to the *oint. 3e shall ha+e all the +isitors in the 7useu! round us soon$ she ur"ed$ with an a**rehensi+e "lance at the *eo*le who were curiously drawin" near$ and shall *erha*s be turned out for !akin" a disturbance. Then I should "o at once to the En"lish a!bassador$ Aunt Anne said with di"nity. But$ as I ha+e now seen his eyes and a! assured he is 8not8 the !an we want$ we can *ass on$ and with a stately bow$ and the re!ark that if he annoyed her in future she would feel co!*elled to co!*lain$ she !o+ed away$ Barbara followin"$ cri!son with !in"led a!use!ent and +e&ation.

CHAPTER 9. B''2#B0E T' PARI.. The days in Paris flew *ast far too 5uickly for Barbara$ who en4oyed e+erythin" to the full. As she ca!e to know her aunt better$ and "ot accusto!ed to her dry !anner and rather e&act ways$ she found her to be a really "ood co!*anion$ not alto"ether lackin" in hu!our$ and ha+in" untirin" ener"y in si"ht#seein" and a keen sy!*athy with Barbara(s deli"ht in what was new. Perha*s 7iss Britton$ too$ was "ainin" !ore *leasure fro! the tri* than she had e&*ected$ for u* till now she had seen her niece only as one a

little sobered by res*onsibility and the constraint of her own *resence. 3hate+er the cause$ it was certain that durin" the *ast fortni"ht 7iss Britton had felt the days of her youth nearer her than for so!e ti!e$ and it was with !utual re"ret that they reached the last day of their stay in Paris. They were sittin" to"ether on the balcony$ with the bees +ery busy in the lilac#bush near the!$ and the do+es !ur!urin" to each other at the end of the "arden. Barbara was readin" a "uide#book on Brittany$ and 7iss Britton$ with her knittin" in her hands$ was listenin" to bits the "irl read aloud$ and watchin" a little frown "row between the eyebrows. It was curious how the frown between the dark brows re!inded her of her dead brother1 and after a !o!ent she laid down her knittin". GIllustrationF Barbara was readin" a "uide book on Brittany. H 0ou !ay think it a little unkind$ Barbara$ she be"an$ that I a! not co!in" with you to see what kind of *lace it is to which you are "oin"$ but I think it is "ood for a "irl to learn to be inde*endent and self#reliant. I !ade careful in5uiries$ and the *eo*le see! to be +ery "ood at teachin" ,rench##they used to li+e in Paris##and they are 5uite res*ectable. 'f course$ you !ay not find e+erythin" 4ust as you like it$ and if it is really un*leasant$ you can write !e$ and I shall arran"e for you to return here. But Paris would be !ore distractin" for you to li+e in$ and in a week or two far too hot to be *leasant. Besides$ I should like you really to 8study8 the lan"ua"e$ so that you !ay *rofit by your stay in ,rance$ as well as en4oy it. If I stayed with you you would ne+er talk ,rench all the ti!e. .he sto**ed a !o!ent$ and took a stitch or two in her knittin"$ then added in a tone 5uite different fro! her usual 5uick$ *recise way$ 0our father was a s*lendidly strai"ht$ stron" !an##in body and !ind. Try to be like hi! in e+ery way. He would ha+e wished his eldest dau"hter to be sensible and coura"eous. Barbara flushed with *leasure at the *raise of her father. .he had ne+er heard her aunt !ention hi! before$ and she leaned forward ea"erly$ Thank you$ Aunt Anne##I want to be like hi!. .he would "ladly ha+e kissed her$ but the fa!ily habit of reser+e was stron" u*on her. /et !e see$ continued her aunt$ can you rideBarbara lau"hed.

I used to ride To*sy##the .hetland$ you know##lon" a"o$ but father sold hi!. Her eyes followed her aunt(s across the "arden and the end of the street$ to the distant "li!*se of the Bois de Boulo"ne$ where riders *assed at fre5uent inter+als$ and her eyes "lowed. 2oesn(t it look 4olly- she said. I used to lo+e it. Aunt Anne nodded. I used to ride in !y youth$ and your father rode beautifully before he was !arried$ and when he could afford to kee* a horse. He would like you to ha+e done so too$ I think. If there is any *lace where you can learn in .t. .er+an$ you !ay. It will be a "ood chan"e fro! your studies. 'h$ aunt% and this ti!e reser+e was thrown to the winds$ and Barbara !ost heartily e!braced her. 'h$ how *erfectly s*lendid of you% It has always been !y drea! to ride *ro*erly$ but I ne+er$ ne+er thou"ht it would co!e true. 2rea!s do not often$ 7iss Britton returned$ with a scarcely audible si"h1 then she "athered u* her soft white wool. There is the first bell$ child$ and we ha+e not chan"ed for dinner. Co!e$ be 5uick. The ne&t !ornin" a hea+ily#laden cab *assed fro! the Rue .t. .ul*ice throu"h the "ates into the city. 7iss Britton$ findin" that a friend of the Bel+oirs was "oin" al!ost the whole way to .t. .er+an$ had arran"ed for Barbara to "o under her care. But it was with +ery re"retful eyes that the "irl watched the train$ bearin" her aunt away$ lea+e the station$ and she was rather a silent tra+eller when$ later in the !ornin"$ she was herself 8en route8 for .t. .er+an. Not so her co!*anion$ howe+er$ a !ost talkati+e *ersona"e$ who was hardly 5uiet fi+e !inutes consecuti+ely. .he *oured forth all sorts of confidences about her fa!ily and friends$ and see!ed 5uite satisfied if Barbara !erely nodded and !ur!ured$ 8Co!!e c(est interessant%8 thou"h she did not understand nearly all her co!*anion said. The latter *ointed out *laces of interest in *assin"$ and finally$ with an effusi+e "ood#bye$ "ot out at the station before .t. .er+an. As the train neared its destination$ Barbara looked an&iously to see what the town was like$ and her disa**oint!ent was "reat at the first "li!*se of the *lace. 3hen the fa!ily had looked u* the Encyclo*aedia

for a descri*tion of .t. .er+an$ it see!ed to be that of a s!all$ old#fashioned *lace$ and Barbara had *ictured it little !ore than a +illa"e with a *ictures5ue beach. Instead of that$ she saw !any houses$ so!e tall chi!neys$ and 5uays with shi*s lyin" alon"side. It would ha+e cheered her had she known that the station was really a considerable distance fro! the town$ and in the u"liest *art of it1 but that she did not find out till later. 'utside the station were !any +ociferous cab#dri+ers offerin" to take her anywhere she liked$ and$ choosin" the one whose horse see!ed best cared for$ she in5uired if he knew where the house of 7ade!oiselle /oirE$ Rue Cal+ados$ was. Brinnin" broadly he bade her ste* in$ and *resently they were rollin" and bu!*in" alon" rou"h cobble#stoned streets. Barbara had further i!a"ined$ fro! the descri*tion of the house that 7ade!oiselle /oirE had sent the!$ that it was a +illa standin" by itself$ and was rather sur*rised when the 8fiacre8$ after cli!bin" a +ery stee* street$ sto**ed at a door and de*osited herself and her trunks before it. Al!ost before she ran" the bell she heard hurried ste*s$ and the door was o*ened by so!e one who! she i!a"ined !i"ht be the housekee*er. Is 7ade!oiselle /oirE in- she in5uired of the thin and se+ere#lookin" wo!an with hair *arted ti"htly in the !iddle. I a! 7ade!oiselle /oirE$ she re*lied stiffly in ,rench$ and you$ I su**ose$ are 7iss Britton% I a! sorry there was no one at the station to !eet you$ but we did not e&*ect you so soon. 2id you not "et !y *ost#card- Barbara asked. I could not *ossibly do that$ 7ade!oiselle /oirE returned re*ro+in"ly1 it was *osted in Paris far too late for 8that8. Howe+er$ *erha*s you will now co!e into the 8salon8$ and Barbara followed !eekly into a roo! lookin" out u*on the "arden$ and +ery full of all kinds of thin"s. .he had hardly "ot in before she heard a bustle on the stairs$ which was followed by the entrance of 7ade!oiselle ThErDse /oirE. Her face was not so lon" nor her hair so ti"htly drawn back as her sister(s$ and she ca!e forward with a rush$ s!ilin" broadly$ but$ so!ehow$ Barbara felt she would like the *ri! sister better. After askin" !any 5uestions about the 4ourney they took her to her roo!$ and Barbara(s heart sank a little. The house see!ed dark and cold after that in Neuilly$ and her bedroo! was *a+ed with red brick$ as was the custo! in those *arts in old houses.

The dinin"#roo!##s!ellin" so!ewhat of da!*##was a lon"$ low roo! leadin" strai"ht into the "arden$ and the whole effect was rather de*ressin". At su**er#ti!e$ Barbara was !ade ac5uainted with the rest of the household$ which consisted of an ado*ted niece##a *lu!* "irl of about se+enteen$ with +ery red cheeks and a +ery s!all waist##and two boys about twel+e$ who were boardin" with the /oirEs so that they !i"ht "o to the /ycEeG=H in the town. After su**er$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse e&*lained that they usually went for a walk with the widower and his children who li+ed ne&t door. Poor thin"s% she said$ they knew nobody when they ca!e to the town$ and a widower in ,rance is so shut off fro! co!*anionshi* that we thou"ht we !ust be kind to the!. They ha+e not a wo!an in the house e&ce*t a charer$ who co!es in the first thin" in the !ornin". Barbara$ with a chuckle o+er the charer$ went to *ut on her hat$ and on co!in" into the dinin"#roo! a"ain$ found the widower and his sons already there. .o!ethin" in the sha*e of the back of the elder !an see!ed fa!iliar to her$ and on his turnin" round to "reet her$ she reco"nised her little friend of the train on their first arri+al in ,rance. The reco"nition was !utual$ and before she had ti!e to s*eak he rushed forward and *oured forth a torrent of ,rench$ while 7ade!oiselle ThErDse cla!oured for an e&*lanation$ which he finally "a+e her. At last he had to sto* for want of breath$ and Barbara had ti!e to look at his sons##boys of twel+e and si&teen##who see!ed a "reat care to hi!. All the three$ father and sons$ wore cloaks with hoods to the!$ which they called 8ca*ucines8$ and as there was +ery little difference in their hei"hts$ they !ade rather a 5uaint trio. Barbara was "lad to see hi! a"ain$ howe+er$ for it see!ed to brin" her aunt nearer. It a!used her considerably to notice how 7ade!oiselle ThErDse flew fro! one *arty to another$ durin" the whole of the walk$ e+idently feelin" that she was the cha*eron of each indi+idual. .he started out beside the widower$ but soon interru*ted his con+ersation by dashin" off to "i+e a word of warnin" to the boys$ and what was su**osed to be a word of encoura"e!ent to Barbara$ who was walkin" with 7arie$ the niece$ and the widower(s eldest son. It did not !ake !uch difference to the!$ for )ean and 7arie see!ed to ha+e *lenty to say1 and after addressin" a few careless re!arks to Barbara$ to which$ *erha*s$ she did not *ay !uch attention$ the latter heard her say to her co!*anion$ Bah% there is nothin" to be !ade of her1 let us continue1 and she was "lad they left her alone that first

e+enin"$ for she was not in the !ood for talkin".

G=H Public school.

CHAPTER 9I. THE RE9'/T ', T3'. The days that followed were not as *leasant to Barbara as those she had s*ent in Paris$ for thou"h .t. 7alo$ 4ust across the ri+er$ fascinated her$ she did not care !uch for .t. .er+ant$ and the *eo*le did not *ro+e con"enial to her##es*ecially 7ade!oiselle ThErDse. Thou"h she see!ed to be a cle+er teacher$ Barbara could ne+er be sure that she was s*eakin" the truth$ and in writin" ho!e she described her as rather a hu!bu". 7ost En"lish *eo*le$ she told Barbara shortly after her arri+al$ *ronounce ,rench badly because their !ouths are sha*ed differently fro! ours$ but 8yours8$ 7iss Britton$ is 4ust ri"ht$ therefore your accent is already wonderfully "ood. The "irl lau"hed1 the fa!ily had ne+er been in the habit of flatterin" one another$ and she did not a**reciate it as !uch as 7ade!oiselle ThErDse had !eant she should. Indeed$ Barbara wished that the lady would be less sua+e to her and !ore unifor! in te!*er towards the rest of the household$ who so!eti!es$ she shrewdly sur!ised$ suffered considerably fro! the youn"er sister(s irascibility. .he had 4ust been in .t. .er+an ten days$ when she had an e&a!*le of what she described in a letter ho!e as a sta"e 5uarrel between the 7ade!oiselles /oirE. It be"an at second 8dE4euner8 o+er so!e tri+ial *oint in the education of 7arie$ about who! they were +ery a*t to be 4ealous. Their +oices "radually rose hi"her and hi"her$ the re!arks !ade bein" anythin" but co!*li!entary$ till finally 7ade!oiselle /oirE lea*ed fro! her seat$ sayin" she would not stay there to be insulted$ and darted u*stairs. Her sister *ro!*tly followed$ continuin" her ar"u!ent as she went$ but arri+in" too late at the study door$ which was bolted on the inside by the fu"iti+e. After +arious fruitless atte!*ts to !ake herself heard$ 7ade!oiselle

ThErDse returned to the dinin"#roo!$ and after a few words of *oliteness to Barbara$ be"an once !ore on the sub4ect of dis*ute$ this ti!e with 7arie$ her niece. A**arently the latter took a leaf out of her aunt(s book$ for after s*eakin" noisily for a few !inutes$ she said 8she8 would not be insulted either$ and followed her u*stairs. Thereu*on 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s an"er knew no bounds$ and findin" that 7arie had taken refu"e beside her aunt in the study$ she be"an to beat a li+ely tattoo u*on the door. The two boys$ full of curiosity$ followed to see what was "oin" on$ so Barbara was left in solitary "randeur$ with the ruins of an o!elette before her$ and she$ ha+in" hun"er$ went on stolidly with her !eal. .he was$ in truth$ a little dis"usted with the whole affair$ and was not sorry to esca*e to her roo! before 7ade!oiselle ThErDse returned. They were !akin" such a noise below that it was useless to atte!*t to do any work$ and she was 4ust thinkin" of "oin" out for a walk$ when her door burst o*en and in rushed 7ade!oiselle /oirE$ dra""in" 7arie with her. Iee* her with you$ she *anted1 she says she will kill !y sister. Iee* her with you while I "o down and ar"ue with ThErDse. Barbara looked shar*ly at the "irl$ and it see!ed to her that thou"h she ke*t !ur!urin"$ I(ll kill her I##I(ll kill her% half her an"er was !erely assu!ed$ and that there was no necessity for alar!. How can they be so silly and theatrical- she !uttered. Then$ "lancin" round the roo! to see if there were anythin" she could "i+e her$ she noticed a bottle of Eno(s ,ruit .alts$ and her eyes twinkled. It was not e&actly the sa!e thin" as sal +olatile$ of course$ but at any rate it would kee* the "irl 5uiet$ so$ *ourin" out a lar"e "lassful$ she bade 7arie drink it. The latter obeyed !eekly$ and for so!e ti!e was reduced to silence by want of breath. I shall certainly throw !yself into the sea$ she "as*ed at last. 3ell$ you will certainly be !ore foolish than I thou"ht you were$ if you do$ Barbara returned cal!ly. Indeed$ I can(t think what all this fuss is about. 7arie stared. 3hy$ it(s to show Aunt ThErDse that she !ust not tyrannise o+er us like that$ she said. I told her I was "oin" to throw !yself into the sea$ and as she belie+es it$ it is al!ost the sa!e thin".

Barbara shru""ed her shoulders. A +ery co!fortable way of doin" thin"s in cold weather$ she re!arked1 but I want a little 5uiet now$ and I think you had better ha+e so!e too. The ,rench "irl$ so!ewhat o+erawed by the other(s coolness$ rela*sed into silence$ and when the sounds downstairs see!ed 5uieter Barbara "ot u*$ and said she was "oin" out for a walk. .he found on descendin"$ howe+er$ that the ar"u!ent had only been transferred to !ade!oiselle(s workroo!$ where a +ery funny si"ht !et her eyes when she looked in. The *oor little widower$ who! a**arently the two sisters had fetched to arbitrate between the!$ stood lookin" fearfully e!barrassed in the !iddle of the roo!$ turnin" a*olo"etically fro! one to the other. He ne+er "ot any further than the first few words$ howe+er$ as they brou"ht a torrent of e&*lanation fro! both his hearers$ each "i+in" hi! do:ens of reasons why the other was wron". 7arie$ who watched for a !o!ent or two$ could not hel* 4oinin" in1 and Barbara$ +ery tired of it all$ left the! to fi"ht it out by the!sel+es$ and went away by the windin" streets to the look#out station$ where she sat down and watched the sun shinin" on the beautiful old walls of .t. 7alo. .he had only been once in that town with 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ but the ra!*arts and the old houses had fascinated her$ and if she had been allowed$ she would ha+e crossed the little !o+in" brid"e daily. 3hen she returned$ the house see!ed 5uiet a"ain$ for which she was +ery thankful$ and$ !ountin" to her roo!$ she *re*ared the ,rench lesson which was usually "i+en her at that ti!e. But when 7ade!oiselle ThErDse ca!e u*$ she s*ent !ost of the ti!e in bewailin" the in"ratitude of one(s fellow !ortals$ es*ecially near relations$ and wonderin" if 7arie were really "oin" to drown herself$ and when her sister would unlock her door and co!e out of the roo!. .u**er was rather a doleful !eal$ and i!!ediately after it !ade!oiselle went to look for her niece$ who had not returned. Barbara lau"hed a little scornfully at her fears$ and e+en when she ca!e back with the news that 7arie was not concealed ne&t door$ as she had thou"ht$ refused to belie+e that the "irl was not hidin" so!ewhere else. But where could she be e&ce*t ne&t door- !ade!oiselle 5uestioned1 and when I went to ask$ 7onsieur 2ubois was seated with his sons

ha+in" su**er$ and no si"ns of the truant. He had seen or heard nothin" of her$ he said. Barbara wondered which had been decei+ed$ and whether the widower hi!self was decei+ed or decei+er$ but$ "i+in" u* the atte!*t to decide the 5uestion$ retired to bed$ ad+isin" !ade!oiselle to do the sa!e$ feelin" so!e curiosity$ but no an&iety$ as to 7arie(s fate. .he had not been in bed +ery lon" when she heard so!e one !o+e stealthily downstairs and enter the dinin"#roo!. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ she knew$ had locked all the doors and "one to her bedroo!$ which was in the front of the house$ and she i!!ediately "uessed that it !ust be so!ethin" to do with 7arie. The *lot thickens$ she said to herself$ stealin" to the window$ which looked out u*on the "arden. There$ to her a!a:e!ent$ she saw 7ade!oiselle /oirE e!er"in" laboriously fro! the dinin"#roo! window. .he saw her in the !oonli"ht cree* down the "arden towards the wall at the end$ but what ha**ened after that she could only "uess at$ as the trees cast a shadow which hid the lady fro! +iew. The lady or the ti"er- she said$ lau"hin"$ as she *eered into the shades of the trees$ and about fi+e !inutes later was rewarded by seein" two fi"ures hurry back and enter the house by the sa!e way that 7ade!oiselle /oirE had "ot out. 7arie% she thou"ht triu!*hantly$ wonderin" in what *art of the "arden she had been hidden$ as there was no "ate in the direction fro! which she had co!e. .he lay awake for a little while$ !editatin" on the +a"aries of the fa!ily she had fallen into$ and then fell so soundly aslee* that she was sur*rised to find it broad dayli"ht when she awoke$ and to see 7arie sittin" on the end of her bed$ s!ilin" bea!in"ly u*on her. .o you(re back- Barbara in5uired with a yawn. I ho*e you didn(t find it too cold in the "arden last ni"ht. 0ou saw us$ then- "i""led 7arie. But you don(t know where I ca!e fro!$ do you- Nor does Aunt ThErDse. I(ll tell you now1 such an e&citin" ti!e I(+e had##4ust like a story#book heroine. Penny no+elette heroine$ !ur!ured Barbara$ but her +isitor was too full of her ad+enture to notice the re!ark. As you know$ I told Aunt ThErDse I should drown !yself$ she be"an co!*lacently1 but$ of course$ such was not !y intention.

'f course not$ inter*olated Barbara drily. Instead$ I confided !y *lan to Aunt 7arie$ then sli**ed out into the street$ and thence to our friends ne&t door. The widower(s- e&clai!ed the En"lish "irl in sur*rise. The +ery sa!e. I e&*lained to hi! !y *ro4ect for "i+in" !y aunt a wholeso!e lesson1 and he$ with true chi+alry$ in+ited !e to su* with the!##he saw I was s*ent with hun"er. Barbara$ lookin" at the *lu!*$ rosy face of her co!*anion$ which had assu!ed a tra"ic air$ stifled a lau"h$ and the "irl continued. I s*ent a *leasant ti!e$ and was 4ust finishin" !y re*ast when the bell ran". (7y aunt%( I cried. (Hide !e fro! her wrath$ 7onsieur.( (The coal#cellar$( he re*lied$ after a !o!ent(s stern thou"ht. In one second I had disa**eared##I was no !ore##and when !y aunt entered she found hi! at su**er with his sons. 3hen she had "one I returned$ and we s*ent the e+enin" cheerfully in !utual con"ratulation. At ni"htfall$ when we considered all was secure$ Aunt 7arie ca!e into the "arden$ *laced a ladder a"ainst the wall$ and I *assed fro! one "arden into the other and re"ained our roo! securely. I think Aunt ThErDse sus*ected nothin"##7onsieur 2ubois is such a beautiful decei+er. 3ell$ I think you ou"ht to be asha!ed of yourself$ Barbara said hotly. A*art fro! the !eanness and deceitfulness of it all$ you ha+e beha+ed !ost childishly$ and I shall always think less of 7onsieur 2ubois for his untruthfulness. Untruthfulness% 7arie returned in an offended tone. He acted !ost chi+alrously1 but you En"lish ha+e such barbarous ideas about chi+alry. ,or a !o!ent Barbara felt te!*ted to "et u* and shake the "irl$ then ca!e to the conclusion that it would be waste of ti!e and ener"y to ar"ue with an indi+idual whose ideas were so ho*elessly dissi!ilar to her own. I(! "oin" to "et u* now$ she said shortly. I(ll be "lad if you would "o. But don(t you want to know what we are "oin" to do now- 5ueried 7arie$ a little astonished that her co!*anion should not show !ore interest in such an e&citin" ad+enture. 'ur ca!*ai"n has only be"un.

3e will !ake Aunt ThErDse ca*itulate before we ha+e done. After all$ she is the youn"er. 3e intend to stay in our roo!s without descendin" until she *ro!ises to ask *ardon for her insults$ and say no !ore of the !atter1 and we will "o out ni"htly to "et air##carefully a+oidin" !eetin" her##and will buy oursel+es sausa"es and chocolate$ and so li+e until she sees how wron" she has been. .he ended with "reat *ride$ feelin" that at len"th she !ust ha+e !ade an i!*ression on this *rosaic En"lish "irl$ and was !uch disconcerted when Barbara broke into lau"hter$ cryin"$ 'h$ you "oose1 how can you be so silly% 7arie rose with hurt di"nity. 0ou ha+e no feelin" for ro!ance$ she said. 0our hori:on is !ost co!!on*lace. Then$ struck by a sudden fear$ she added$ But you surely will not be un*leasant enou"h to tell Aunt ThErDse what I ha+e confided to you- I trusted you. No$ Barbara said$ a little unwillin"ly$ I won(t tell her1 but I wish you had left !e out of the !atter entirely$ for I certainly cannot lie to her. And with that 7arie had to be content.

CHAPTER 9II. A 3I/2 2RI9E. The unco!fortable ca!*ai"n$ as 7arie had called it$ continued for so!e days$ and Barbara was in the un*leasant condition of ha+in" both *arties confide in her. At the end of that ti!e$ howe+er$ it see!ed as if the dainties that sustained the two u*stairs be"an to *all u*on the!$ as housekee*in" e+idently did on 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ and Barbara saw si"ns of a truce. This was doubtless hastened by the news that an old fa!ily friend was co!in" with his wife and dau"hter on the ne&t .unday afternoon$ and$ as 7ade!oiselle ThErDse e&*lained$ they !ust kee* u* a**earances. He was a lawyer who li+ed at 2ol$ and fro! the *re*arations that were !ade$ Barbara saw that they thou"ht a "reat deal of hi!$ for there was such bakin" and cookin" as had ne+er been since her arri+al. The salad e+en was adorned with rose lea+es$ and looked char!in"$ while the 7esde!oiselles /oirE clothed the!sel+es in their best "ar!ents. They all sat in state in the drawin"#roo! as the hour for the arri+al

of the +isitors a**roached$ tryin" to look as if they had ne+er heard of soufflet or !ayonnaise salad$ and Barbara$ who had been called u*on to taste each of the dishes in turn and "i+e an o*inion on their worth$ al!ost felt as if she ne+er wished to hear of such thin"s a"ain. About twel+e o(clock a 8fiacre8 sto**ed at the door$ and a few !inutes later the +isitors were announced##father$ !other$ and dau"hter. Barbara was a"reeably sur*rised##as indeed she often was by the /oirEs( friends##to find that they were so nice. The !other and dau"hter were both +ery fashionably dressed$ but si!*le and frank$ the father$ howe+er$ bein" !ost attracti+e to Barbara. He was cle+er and a!usin"$ and contradicted 7ade!oiselle ThErDse in such an audacious way$ that had it been any one else$ she would ha+e retired to her bedroo! offended for a week. The +isit *assed !ost successfully$ 7ade!oiselle /oirE(s cookin" bein" 5uite as !uch a**reciated as she had e&*ected$ and when the +isitors said "ood#bye$ Barbara left the sisters con"ratulatin" the!sel+es on their success. A few days later the final word was added to the truce between the sisters by 7ade!oiselle ThErDse *ro*osin" that 8she8 should stay at ho!e and look after the house$ while her sister took Barbara and 7arie for a +isit to Cancale$ whose beauties$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse assured Barbara$ had a world#wide renown. But the elder sister$ thou"h ob+iously *leased by the su""estion$ thou"ht she would rather ThErDse went$ while she stayed in .t. .er+an and *aid a few calls that she was desirous of !akin". After !uch discussion it was so deter!ined$ and the followin" day 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ with the two "irls$ set off after lunch by the train. The ride was a *leasant one$ and the !a"nificent +iew of the Bay of Cancale with the 7ont .t. 7ichel in the distance deli"hted Barbara(s heart. .he !uch *referred the 5uaint little fishin" +illa"e$ /a Houle$ nestlin" at the foot of the cliffs$ to the !ore fashionable 5uarter of the town1 but 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ who was bent on seein" the fashions of the +isitors$ led the way with ener"y to the hotel half way u* the cliff. It was certainly "ay enou"h there$ and the ,renchwo!an e&*lained to her *u*il that if one noticed the costu!es at seaside resorts it often sa+ed buyin" fashion#books. They sat on the terrace$ !ade!oiselle and 7arie di+idin" their attention between a stout lady$ in a "or"eous toilet of *ur*le tri!!ed with blue$ and oysters$ which$ the ,renchwo!an assured Barbara$ were one of the beauties of the *lace. But the latter contented herself with tea$ wonderin" idly$ as she drank it$ why the be+era"e so often

tasted of stewed hay. After their refresh!ent they strolled round the town$ and then sat u*on the *ro!enade$ watchin" the sun tra+el slowly down the sky towards the sea#line. .uddenly !ade!oiselle re!e!bered the ti!e$ and$ lookin" at her watch$ declared they had but a few !inutes in which to "et to the train$ and that they !ust run if they wished to catch it. 'ff they started$ !ade!oiselle *antin" in the rear$ callin" u*on the "irls to wait$ and "as*in" out that it would be of no use to arri+e without her. They were e&tre!ely "lad on arri+in" at the ter!inus to see that they had still a !inute or two to s*are. 3e are in ti!e for the train- !ade!oiselle asked of a 8"endar!e8 standin" near the station house. The !an stared at her. Certainly$ !ada!e$ he said at last1 but would it not be as well to co!e here in the !ornin"In the !ornin"% she echoed. 0ou foolish fellow% 3e want to "o by this train##it should be here now##it lea+es at ?.@A. Ah% the !an said$ and he see!ed to understand. I fear you ha+e lost 8that8 train by se+eral days1 it went last .unday. 3hat% screa!ed !ade!oiselle. How dare you !ock !e% I will re*ort you. That !ust be as !ada!e wishes$ returned the !an with horrible cal!ness1 but the train !ada!e wishes to "et only runs on .undays$ and$ therefore$ she !ust wait se+eral days for the ne&t. If any other train will do$ there is one in the !ornin" at J.@A. Barbara wanted to lau"h$ but consideration##or fear##of 7ade!oiselle ThErDse##ke*t her 5uiet$ and they stood "a:in" at one another in sorrowful silence. A ten#!ile walk at ?.@A in the e+enin"$ unless with +ery choice co!*anions$ is not an un!iti"ated *leasure$ es*ecially when one has been walkin" durin" the day. Howe+er$ there was nothin" for it but to walk$ as a con+eyance$ if obtainable$ would ha+e been too e&*ensi+e for 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s econo!ical ideas. They declared at first that it was a lo+ely e+enin"$ and be"an to cheer their way by s*ri"htly con+ersation$ but a !ile or two of dusty hi"hroad told u*on the!$ and silence fell with the darkness. It was a

*articularly hot e+enin" too$ and "reat heat$ as e+ery one knows$ fre5uently tends to irritation$ so *erha*s their silence was 4udicious. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse ke*t !ur!urin" at inter+als that it really was !ost annoyin"$ as her sister would ha+e been e&*ectin" the! !uch earlier$ and would be so +e&ed. Perha*s +isions of a second retire!ent$ which no fa!ily friend would co!e to relie+e$ floated before her eyes. 7ore than half the distance had been co+ered when they heard the sound of wheels behind the!. A carria"e% cried !ade!oiselle$ roused to sudden ener"y$ they 8!ust8 "i+e us a lift$ and drawin" u* by the side of the road$ they waited an&iously to know their fate. It was fairly dark by this ti!e$ and they could not distin"uish thin"s clearly$ but they saw a bi" horse$ with a li"ht$ o*en cart behind. 3hen !ade!oiselle first be"an to s*eak$ the dri+er took not the least notice$ but after "oin" a few yards$ *ursued by her with *raiseworthy dili"ence and sur*risin" +i"our$ he *ulled u* and *ointed to the seat behind$ the *lace beside hi! bein" already filled by a trunk. The wanderers scra!bled in 4oyfully$ "reatly *leased with their "ood luck$ and it was not until they were in their *laces$ and near the !an$ that they disco+ered he had been drinkin" freely and was not as clear#headed as he !i"ht ha+e been. If there had been ti!e they would all ha+e "ot out a"ain$ but he whi**ed u* so 5uickly that there was no chance. He continued to whi* u*$ !oreo+er$ till they were "oin" at a !ost break#neck s*eed. 7ade!oiselle$ clin"in" !adly to the side of the cart$ be""ed hi! in the !idst of her "as*s and e&cla!ations to let the! descend1 but the !ore she be""ed and the !ore des*erate she beca!e$ the better *leased he see!ed$ and it really looked as if they !i"ht all be thrown into the ditch. Then !ade!oiselle$ who was always rather ner+ous about dri+in"$ broke into shrill screa!s$ with 7arie 4oinin" in at inter+als##Bil*in(s fli"ht was nothin" to it##and the cart 4olted and swayed so that cal! e&*ostulation was i!*ossible. A lesson in rou"h#ridin" to a be"inner could not ha+e *ro+ed a !ore dis4ointin" e&*erience$ and the !an$ chucklin" o+er the loudly#e&*ressed fear of his co!*anions$ dro+e on. ,ortunately$ there were not !any turns$ and the road was fairly wide all the way1 but once Barbara felt the hed"e brush her face$ and 7arie(s handkerchief$ which she had been usin" to !o* u* her tears$ was borne away a few !inutes later by the bushes on the o**osite side of the road.

The only thin" that could be said in fa+our of the dri+e was that they co+ered the "round with "reat s*eed$ and the thou"ht occurred to Barbara that it would be by no !eans *leasant to enter the streets of .t. .er+an with their *resent dri+er and two screa!in" wo!en$ as$ a*art fro! other considerations$ they !i"ht !eet the *olice!an$ and the encounter would be un*leasant. .he told !ade!oiselle and 7arie that if they did not want to be killed or locked u* in the 8*rEfecture8$ they !ust 4u!* off the back of the cart while "oin" u* the hill outside the town. The horse$ after its wild career$ would cal! down on the incline$ besides which$ a fall in the road would be *referable to bein" thrown throu"h a sho* window. It took +ery forcible lan"ua"e to !ake 7ade!oiselle ThErDse face *resent terror rather than await the future1 but$ when the horse really did slow down to a walk$ and the two "irls had reached the "round in safety$ she !ade a !i"hty effort$ and floundered out in a hea* u*on the road$ !akin" so !uch noise that Barbara was afraid the !an would realise they were "one$ and insist u*on their "ettin" in a"ain. But he whi**ed u* at that !o!ent$ and the noise of the cart drowned the dolorous co!*laints. The "irls soothed their co!*anion by assurin" her that in ten !inutes they would be ho!e$ when$ !ost assuredly$ her sister(s heart would be !o+ed to *ity by their sorry *li"ht and the tale of their ad+entures. )ust as they arri+ed at their own door they !et 7ade!oiselle /oirE hurryin" u*$ and her sister$ thinkin" she was co!in" to look for the!$ and not knowin" the rece*tion she !i"ht "et$ fell u*on her neck$ *ourin" forth with incoherent sobs and e&*lanations the tale of their woes. 7ade!oiselle /oirE was !ost sy!*athetic and unre*roachful$ and$ ha+in" dried her sister(s tears$ led her into the house$ where the whole *arty sat down to cake and cider$ under the influence of which 7ade!oiselle ThErDse 5uite reco+ered$ and retold their ad+entures$ Barbara realisin" for the first ti!e$ as she listened$ what heroines they had been% Their screa!in" ad+ance alon" the hi"hroad beca!e a 4ourney$ where they sat "ri!ly$ with set teeth$ listenin" to the curses of a !ad!an$ and bowin" their heads to esca*e ha+in" the! cut off re*eatedly by the branches of trees. Their i"no!inious e&it fro! the cart on the hill beca!e a des*erate

lea* into the darkness$ when the +ehicle was ad+ancin" at full "allo*1 and when Barbara finally rose to say "ood#ni"ht$ she felt as if they had all been *rincesses in a fairy#tale$ in which$ alas% there had been no *rince. .he learned two thin"s on the !orrow##not countin" the con+iction that ridin" at a "allo* in a cart !ade one des*erately stiff. The first was fro! 7arie$ who told her that 7ade!oiselle /oirE(s forbearance with their late return$ and her intense sy!*athy with their ad+entures$ *robably arose fro! the fact that she had 4ust been returnin" fro! her own e&*edition when she !et the wanderers$ and had been filled with +ery si!ilar fears concernin" her rece*tion as those which had filled her sister(s heart. The other fact$ which Barbara read aloud to 7ade!oiselle ThErDse fro! the news*a*er$ was that )ean 7alet had been a**rehended for furious dri+in" at a late hour the *re+ious ni"ht$ and would ha+e to *ay a hea+y fine. How he had co!e safely throu"h the streets at such s*eed$ said the 4ournalist$ was a !iracle. ,ortunately$ there was no one in the cart but hi!self. ,ortunately$ indeed$ there was not$ re!arked Barbara$ foldin" u* the *a*er.

CHAPTER 9III. 7'NT .T. 7ICHE/. The followin" day Barbara was taken to a confir!ation ser+ice at a Ro!an Catholic church in the town$ for one of 7arie(s youn"er brothers was co!in" fro! the country to be confir!ed. Barbara watched the ser+ice curiously$ feelin" rather as if she were in a drea!. The bisho* entered the church with !uch *o!*$ adorned in wonderful lace and e!broidered +est!ents. His *ro"ress u* the aisle was slow$ for there were !any !others and sisters with little children$ who! they *resented to hi! for his blessin"$ and he *atiently sto**ed beside each$ "i+in" the! his rin" to kiss. He was waited on by the cler"y of the church and so!e fro! the country round$ and these latter a!used Barbara not a little$ for they carried

their rochets in news*a*ers$ or in shabby brown ba"s$ which they left in corners of the seats$ while they sli**ed on their rochets in full +iew of e+ery one. Then the boys$ acco!*anied by their "odfathers$ the "irls by their "od!others$ filed slowly u* to the bisho*$ who blessed each in turn. 'n lea+in" hi! they *assed in front of two *riests$ the first attended by a boy bearin" a basket of cotton#wool *ellets di**ed in oil$ the second by a boy with a basket of towels. The first *riest rubbed the forehead of each child with oil$ and the ne&t one dried it. After which they went sin"in" to their *laces. The cere!ony was a +ery lon" one$ and Barbara was not +ery sorry when it was o+er. .he "rew weary before the close$ and was "lad when they !ade their way ho!e$ acco!*anied by 7arie(s father##the /oirEs( half#brother##and the little boy. The for!er was a far!er in the country$ and Barbara thou"ht he was !uch *leasanter to look u*on than either his dau"hter or sisters. 7ade!oiselle /oirE had *ro+ided hi! at lunch with his fa+ourite dish##shri!*s##and Barbara could hardly eat anythin" herself$ bein" co!*letely fascinated with watchin" hi!. He had hel*ed hi!self *retty liberally$ and$ to her a!a:e!ent$ be"an to eat the! with li"htnin" s*eed. He bent fairly low o+er his *late$ restin" an elbow on each side$ and$ *uttin" in the whole shri!* with his left hand$ al!ost i!!ediately see!ed to take out the head and tail with the other$ workin" with !achine#like re"ularity. It was an acco!*lish!ent that Barbara was sure would brin" hi! in a lot of !oney at a show$ and she be"an to *icture to herself a lar"e ad+ertise!ent$ Instantaneous .hri!*#eater$ and the *roducts that !i"ht arise therefro!. 3hen he had al!ost de!olished the dish of shri!*s he sto**ed$ looked a little re"retfully at the 8dEbris8 on his *late$ then strai"htened hi!self in his chair$ and be"an to take an interest in what was "oin" on around hi!. He s!iled beni"nly on his sisters$ teased his dau"hter$ and looked with shy curiosity at Barbara$ to who! he did not dare to address any re!arks until nearly the end of lunch. Then he said +ery slowly$ and in a loud +oice as if s*eakin" to a deaf *erson$ Has the En"lish !ade!oiselle +isited the 7ont .t. 7ichel yetBarbara shook her head. It is a *leasure for the future$ I ho*e$ she said. But certainly$ of course$ she !ust "o there$ he said$ still s*eakin" laboriously. Then after that effort$ as if e&hausted$ he rela*sed into

silence. But 7ade!oiselle ThErDse *ursued the idea$ and before the !eal was o+er had fi&ed a day in the followin" week for the e&cursion. As her sister had already been at the 7ont !ore than once$ it was decided she should re!ain with 7arie$ so that the *leasant task of acco!*anyin" Barbara fell$ as usual$ to 7ade!oiselle ThErDse. At the last !o!ent the nu!bers were increased by the little widower$ who suddenly !ade u* his !ind to 4oin the!$ with his eldest son. It is lon" since I ha+e been$ he declared$ and it is *art of the education of )ean to see the wonders of his nati+e land. Therefore$ !ade!oiselle$ if you *er!it us$ we will 4oin you to#!orrow. It will be doubly *leasant for us to "o in the co!*any of one so learned. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse could not hel* bowin" at such a co!*li!ent$ but it is doubtful whether she really a**reciated the widower(s *ro*osal. The little !an was 5uite ca*able of contradictin" infor!ation she !i"ht "i+e Barbara if he thou"ht it incorrect$ and when he was there she could not kee* the con+ersation entirely in her own hands. By the "irl(s !ost earnest re5uest$ she had a"reed to stay the ni"ht at the 7ont$ and they started off in hi"hest s*irits by an early !ornin" train. Her two co!*anions *oured into Barbara(s ears a full historical account of 7ont .t. 7ichel$ so!eti!es a"reein"$ so!eti!es contradictin" each other$ and the "irl was "lad that$ when at last the lon" stretch of weird and lonely sandflats was reached$ they see!ed to ha+e e&hausted their elo5uence. But where is the sea- she asked in sur*rise. I thou"ht you said the sea would be all round it. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse looked a little unco!fortable. 0es$ the sea##of course. I e&*ected the tide would be hi"h. It ou"ht to be u*$ I a! sure. 0ou told !e too that the tide would be hi"h$ and she turned so 5uickly u*on the widower that he 4u!*ed ner+ously. 0es$ of course$ that is to say##you told !e the tide should be hi"h at *resent$ and I said I did not doubt it since you said it1 but I heard so!e one re!arkin" a few !inutes a"o that it would be u* to#!orrow. Ne+er !ind$ Barbara inter*osed$ for she saw si"ns of a fresh

discussion. It will be all the nicer to see it rise$ I a! sure. And$ fortunately$ the widower and 7ade!oiselle ThErDse a"reed with her. The train$ crowded with +isitors$ *uffed slowly towards .t. 7ichel$ and Barbara watched the di! outline of "ray stone beco!e clearer$ till the full beauty of the Abbaye and the 7er+eille burst u*on her si"ht. .t. 7ichael and All An"els$ she !ur!ured$ lookin" u* towards the "olden fi"ure of the archan"el on the to* of the Abbaye. He looks as if "uardin" the *lace1 but what cruel thin"s went on below hi!. .hockin" tra"edies% !ade!oiselle assured her$ ha+in" heard the last words. .hockin" tra"edies% But let us be 5uick and "et out$ or else we shall not arri+e in ti!e for the first lunch. Now you are "oin" to taste 7ada!e Poulard(s o!elettes##a food a!brosial. 0ou will wonder% They alone are worth co!in" to the 7ont .t. 7ichel for. They hurried out o+er the wooden "an"way that led fro! the train lines to the "ate at the foot of the 7ont$ and entered the stran"e#ste**ed streets$ and !ar+elled at the houses clin"in" to the rock. They were welco!ed into the inn by 7ada!e Poulard herself$ who$ restin" for a !o!ent at the doorway fro! her labours in the kitchen$ stood s!ilin" u*on all co!ers. Barbara looked with interest at the lon"$ low dinin"#roo!$ whose walls bore tokens of the +isits of so !any fa!ous !en and wo!en$ and at whose table there usually "athered folk fro! so !any different nations. There is an En"lish!an% she said ea"erly to 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ for it see!ed 5uite a lon" ti!e since she had seen one of her country!en so near. But$ yes$ of course$ !ade!oiselle answered$ shru""in" her shoulders. 3hat did you e&*ect- They "o e+erywhere$ and she turned her attention to her *late. 'ne !ust be fortified by a "ood !eal$ she said in a sole!n whis*er to Barbara as they rose$ to *re*are one for the blood#curdlin" tales we are about to hear while seein" o+er the Abbaye. And thou"h the "irl allowed so!ethin" for e&a""eration$ it was 5uite true that$ after hearin" the stories$ and seein" the *ictures of those who had *erished in the dun"eons$ she felt +ery eerie when bein" taken throu"h the!. In the da!* darkness she see!ed to realise the terror that i!*rison!ent there !ust ha+e held$ and she thou"ht she could al!ost hear the !oans of the +icti!s and the scra*in" of the rats$ who

were waitin"##for the end. 'h% she cried$ drawin" a lon" breath when they once !ore e!er"ed into the o*en air. 0ou see! hardly able to breathe down there e+en for a little while##and for years#### .he shuddered. How could they bear it'ne learns to bear e+erythin" in this life$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse re*lied sententiously$ shakin" her head and lookin" as if she knew what it was to suffer acutely. 'ne is set on earth to learn to (suffer and "row stron"$( as one of your En"lish *oets says. Barbara turned away i!*atiently$ and felt she could "ladly ha+e shaken her co!*anion. 'ne wants to co!e to a *lace like this with nice co!*anions or alone$ she thou"ht$ and it was this feelin" that dro+e her out on to the ra!*arts that e+enin" after dinner. .he was feelin" ha**y at ha+in" successfully esca*ed fro! the noisy roo! downstairs$ and thankful to the "a!e of cards that had be"uiled 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s attention fro! her$ when she heard footste*s close beside her$ and$ turnin" round$ saw )ean 2ubois. 3hate+er do you want here- she said a little irritably1 then$ hearin" his hu!ble answer that he had 4ust co!e to en4oy the +iew$ felt asha!ed of herself$ and tried to be *leasant. 2o you know$ she said$ suddenly deter!inin" to share an idea with hi! to !ake u* for her for!er rudeness$ we ha+e seen 7ont .t. 7ichel fro! e+ery side but one##and that is the sea side. I should like to see it e+ery way$ wouldn(t you- I ha+e 4ust !ade a little *lan$ and that is to "et u* early to#!orrow !ornin"$ and "o out across the sand till I can see it. 7ade!oiselle% the boy e&clai!ed. But is it safe- The sands are treacherous$ and !any ha+e been buried in the!. 0es1 I know$ but there are lots of footste*s "oin" across the! in all directions$ and I saw so!e *eo*le out there to#day. If I follow the foot*rints it will be safe$ for where !any can "o surely one !ay. It took so!e ti!e for )ean to "row accusto!ed to the idea$ and he drew his 8ca*ucine8 a little closer round hi!$ as if the thou"ht of such an ad+enture chilled hi!1 then he laid his hand on Barbara(s ar!.

I$ too$ he said$ will see the +iew fro! that side. 7ade!oiselle Barbara$ I will co!e with you. But your father- 3ould he a**ro+e$ do you thinkBut assuredly$ )ean said hastily1 he wishes !e to "et an entire idea of 7ont .t. 7ichel##to be *er!eated$ in fact. It is to be an educational +isit$ he said. 9ery well$ then. But we !ust be +ery early and +ery 5uiet$ so that we !ay not disturb !ade!oiselle. I a! not confidin" in her$ you understand. Can you be ready at half#*ast fi+e$ so that we !ay be back before coffeeAssuredly##at half#*ast fi+e I shall be on the terrace$ and )ean(s cheeks actually "lowed at the thou"ht of the ad+enture. There was so !uch ro!ance in it$ he thou"ht$ and *ictured how nice it would be tellin" the story to 7arie afterwards. Barbara herself was +ery "leeful$ for it was nice to be able to act without wonderin" whether she was showin" the youn"er ones a "ood e&a!*le or not. .he felt al!ost as if she were back at school$ and that feelin" was intensified by the little cubicle bedroo!s with which the +isitors at 7ada!e Poulard(s were *ro+ided. .he had been a little an&ious as to whether she would awaken at the ri"ht hour$ but found$ on o*enin" her eyes ne&t !ornin"$ that she had *lenty of ti!e to s*are. .he dressed noiselessly$ for !ade!oiselle was slee*in" in the ne&t roo!$ and she did not want to rouse her$ and stole down the *assa"e and into the terrace$ where )ean was waitin" for her. They were early risers at 7ont .t. 7ichel$ and the ser+ants looked with so!e curiosity$ !in"led *erha*s with disa**ro+al$ at the cou*le$ but they reco"nised the "irl as bein" En"lish$ and of course there was no accountin" for what any of that nation did% It was a lo+ely !ornin"$ and Barbara$ *ickin" her way o+er the rocks$ hu!!ed "aily to herself$ for it was an e&cursion after her own heart. )ean cast rather a doubtful eye fro! the rocks to the waste of sand in front of the!$ but$ seein" his co!*anion did not hesitate$ he could not either$ and ste**ed out boldly beside her. 0ou see$ Barbara e&*lained$ it is really *erfectly hard here$ and we will kee* 5uite close to the footste*s that lead ri"ht out to that other rock out there.

But you are surely not "oin" as far as that- he in5uired an&iously. 3e should ne+er be back in ti!e for coffee. I don(t think so$ Barbara returned "aily1 but we(ll see how we "et on. 3hen once )ean saw that the "round was *erfectly sound beneath their feet$ and that the foot*rints went on unwa+erin"ly$ he felt reassured$ and really be"an to en4oy hi!self. They turned round e+ery now and then to look back at the 7ont$ but decided each ti!e that they had not "ot 5uite far enou"h away to "et a really "ood effect. 0ou know$ said )ean$ so!e of his fears returnin" after a ti!e$ one usually has "uides##*eo*le who know the sands##to take one out so far. I trod on a +ery soft *lace 4ust now. Iee* near the foot*rints then$ Barbara answered. The tide hasn(t been u* yet$ and the sands can(t surely chan"e in the ni"ht#ti!e. )ust a little farther$ and then we will sto*. They sto**ed a few !inutes later$ and both declared that the +iew was well worth the walk$ the only thin" that Barbara re"retted bein" that it was too da!* to sit down and en4oy it at their ease. It 8would8 ha+e been nice to "et as far as To!belaine$ the "irl said at last$ turnin" fro! .t. 7ichel to take another look at the rocky islet farther out1 but I su**ose we really !ust be "oin" ho!e a"ain now. )ean did not answer her. He had turned with her towards the rock1 then his eyes had wandered round the hori:on$ and had re!ained fi&ed in such a stare that the "irl wondered what he saw. 3hat is the !atter- she asked. 3hat is it you are seein"$ )eanThe sea$ he "as*ed$ his face beco!in" ashen. 7ade!oiselle##the tide##it ad+ances##we will be cau"ht. Barbara looked across the lon" stretch of "ray sand till her eyes found the !o+in" line of water. It is nearer$ she said slowly1 but of course it always co!es in e+ery day. 0es##but##to#day##I had for"otten##it is to be hi"h tide##all round

the 7ont. 2id you not hear the! say so0es$ Barbara owned1 I re!e!ber 5uite well now. But let us hurry##it is a lon" way off yet. 3e ha+e *lenty of ti!e. .he s*oke consolin"ly$ for )ean(s face was blanched and she saw he was tre!blin". But$ !ade!oiselle$ you do not understand. 2id you not hear the! tellin" us also that the tide ad+ances so ra*idly that it catches the 5uickest horse- 'h$ I wish we had told so!e one of this 4ourney##that so!e one had seen us. They would ha+e warned us. 3e should ha+e been safe. It was then for the first ti!e that the thou"ht of dan"er entered Barbara(s head$ and she took her co!*anion(s hand. /et us run$ then. 6uick% she said. 3e are not such a +ery lon" way off. )ean hesitated only a !o!ent$ his eyes$ as if fascinated$ still on the water1 then he turned his face towards the 7ont$ and s*ed o+er the sand !ore fleetly than Barbara would ha+e belie+ed *ossible to hi!##so fleetly$ indeed$ that he be"an to lea+e the "irl$ who was swift of foot$ behind. .he "lanced o+er her shoulder at the sea$ which certainly was drawin" in +ery ra*idly$ lickin" o+er the sand "reedily$ then forward at .t. 7ichel$ and fell to a walk. .he knew she could not run the whole distance for it was not easy "oin" on the sand$ es*ecially when an eye had always to be ke*t un the "uidin" foot*rints. GIllustrationF .he "lanced o+er her shoulder at the sea. H It was so!e little ti!e before )ean really realised she was not close behind hi!1 then he sto**ed runnin" and waited for her. Bo on$ she shouted. 2on(t wait for !e$ I can catch you u* later. But it is i!*ossible for !e to lea+e you$ he called back on re"ainin" his breath. But$ oh% run if you can$ for the water co!es +ery near. 'ne !ore fleetin" "lance behind and Barbara broke into a run a"ain$ thou"h her breath ca!e in "as*s. They are seein" us fro! the 7ont$ *anted )ean. They ha+e co!e out to watch the tide rise. Bi+e !e your hand. 2o not sto*% 2o not sto*%

Barbara felt that$ do as she would$ her breath could hold out no lon"er$ and she slackened her *ace to a walk once !ore. Then a "reat shout went u* fro! the *eo*le on the ra!*arts$ and they be"an wa+in" their hands and handkerchiefs wildly. To the! the two fi"ures see!ed to be !o+in" so slowly and the "reat sea behind so terribly fast. Barbara could hear its swish$ swish$ near enou"h now$ and she felt )ean(s hand tre!ble in her own. Run yourself$ she said$ dro**in" it. Run$ and I(ll follow. But he !erely shook his head. To s*eak was waste of breath$ and he !eant his to last hi! till he reached the rocks. He *ulled the "irl into a trot a"ain$ and they *lodded on hea+ily. It was i!*ossible for hi! to s*eak now$ but he *ointed at the rocks below .t. 7ichel where two !en were scra!blin" down$ and Barbara understood that they were co!in" to aid. The sea was +ery close##horribly close##when two fisher!en !et the cou*le$ and$ takin" Barbara(s hands on either side$ *ulled her on$ while )ean *anted a little way behind. The watchin" crowd abo+e had been still with fear until they saw the rocks reached1 then they shouted a"ain and a"ain$ while the !any who had scra!bled down *art of the way hastened forward to see who the ad+enturous cou*le were$ and to "i+e a hel*in" hand if necessary. 'ne of the first to reach the! was the little widower$ his cra+ate loose$ his hat off$ and tears strea!in" down his cheeks. )ean% he wailed. 3hat ha+e I done that you should treat !e so3hat would your sainted !other say were she to see you thusBut neither )ean nor Barbara was ca*able of sayin" a word$ and thou"h the fisher!en were ur"ently assurin" the "irl that she was not safe yet$ that they !ust "o round the rocks to the "ate on the other side$ she re!ained sittin" doubled u* on a rock$ feelin" that her breath would ne+er co!e into her body a"ain. /et her rest a !o!ent$ su""ested one wiser than the rest. .he cannot !o+e till she breathes. There is yet ti!e enou"h. /oosen her collar$ and let her breathe. The sea was "ur"lin" at the foot of the rocks when Barbara re"ained her breath sufficiently to !o+e$ and she was "lad enou"h to ha+e stron" ar!s to hel* her on her way.

)ean and his father reached the "ate first$ and$ therefore$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse had already e&hausted a little of her ener"y before Barbara a**eared. But she was about to flin" herself in tears u*on the "irl(s neck when a bystander inter*osed. /et her breathe$ he said. /et her "o to the inn and "et nourish!ent. And Barbara$ the centre of an ea"er$ e&cited ,rench crowd$ was thankful$ indeed$ to shelter herself within 7ada!e Poulard(s hos*itable walls. 3e will *robably ha+e to stay here a week till she reco+ers ##7ade!oiselle ThErDse had a sy!*athetic audience## she is of delicate constitution1 and the "ood lady was *erha*s a little disa**ointed when Barbara declared herself *erfectly able to "o ho!e in the afternoon as had been arran"ed. 3hat should *re+ent us- she asked$ when after a rest and so!ethin" to eat she ca!e down to the terrace. It was only a lon" race$ and a fri"ht which I 5uite deser+ed. 0es$ indeed$ a fri"ht% and the ,renchwo!an threw u* her hands. .uch fear as I felt when I ca!e out to see the tide and saw you fleein" before it. 0our aunt%##0our !other%##7y char"e% .uch +isions fleeted before !y eyes. But 8ne+er$ ne+er$ ne+er8 will I trust you with )ean any !ore$ and she cast a +en"eful look at the widower and his son$ who were seated a little farther off. But it wasn(t his fault at all$ the "irl e&*lained. 'n the contrary$ I *ro*osed it$ and he 4oined !e out of kindness. He *ulled !e alon"$ too$ o+er the sand. 'h$ indeed$ you !ust not be an"ry with )ean. It was +ery dece*ti+e of hi! not to tell !e##or his father. Then we could both ha+e co!e with you##or e&*lained to you that the tide rose early to#day. 3e heard it was to co!e early when you were out last ni"ht. They say$ she went on$ shakin" her head$ if it had been an e5uinoctial tide$ that neither of you would ha+e esca*ed##there would ha+e been no shadow of a ho*e for either##you would both ha+e been drowned out there in the da!*$ wet sand. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse showin" si"ns of wee*in" a"ain$ Barbara hastened to co!fort her$ assurin" her that she would ne+er a"ain "o out alone to see .t. 7ichel fro! that side$ which she thou"ht was a *erfectly safe *ro!ise to !ake. But her co!*anion shook her head !ournfully$

declarin" that it would be a +ery lon" ti!e before she brou"ht any of her *u*ils to 7ont .t. 7ichel a"ain. They !i"ht really "et cau"ht ne&t ti!e$ she said$ and Barbara knew it was no "ood to *oint out that *robably there would ne+er be another *u*il who was 5uite so silly as she had been. Ne+ertheless$ the "irl said to herself$ lookin" back at the "rand$ "ray *ile fro! the train$ e&ce*t for the fri"ht I "a+e the!$ it was worth it all##worth it all$ dear .t. 7ichel$ to see you fro! out there. And )ean$ lookin" *ensi+ely out of the window$ was thinkin" that since it was safely o+er$ the ad+enture was one which any youth !i"ht be *roud to tell to his co!*anions$ and which few were fortunate or bra+e enou"h to ha+e e&*erienced.

CHAPTER IK. 7A2E7'I.E//E 9IRL. The /oirEs( chief +irtues are their friends$ Barbara had written ho!e$ and it was always a sur*rise to her to find that they knew so !any nice *eo*le. A few days after the ad+enturous +isit to 7ont .t. 7ichel she !ade the ac5uaintance of one who! she learned to lo+e dearly$ and about who! there hun" a halo of ro!ance that char!ed the "irl. Her story is known to !e$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse e&*lained on the way to her house$ and I will tell it you##in confidence$ of course. .he *aused a !o!ent to i!*ress Barbara and to arran"e her thou"hts$ for she dearly lo+ed a ro!antic tale$ and would add "arnishin" by the way if she did not consider it had enou"h. .he is the dau"hter of a *rofessor$ she be"an *resently. They used to li+e in Rouen##"ray$ beautiful$ !any#churched Rouen. The lady "lanced sideways at her co!*anion to see if her rhetoric were i!*ressi+e enou"h$ and Barbara waited "ra+ely for her to continue$ thou"h wonderin" if !ade!oiselle had e+er read 8The /ady of .halott8. An officer in one of the re"i!ents stationed in the 5uaint old town$ *ursued !ade!oiselle$ saw the *rofessor(s fair youn" dau"hter$ and fell ra*turously in lo+e with her. 3hereu*on they beca!e betrothed.

Barbara frowned a little. The settin" of the story was too ornate$ and see!ed al!ost barbarous. And then- she asked i!*atiently. Then##ah$ then% si"hed the story#teller$ who thou"ht she was !akin" a "reat i!*ression## then the sorrow ca!e. As soon as his fa!ily knew$ they were "rie+ously an"ry$ furiously wrathful$ because she had no 8dot81 and when she heard of their fury and wrath she nobly refused to !arry hi! until he "ained their consent. (Ne+er$( she cried ;and it was ob+ious that here !ade!oiselle was relyin" on her own in+ention<$ (ne+er will I !arry thee a"ainst thy *arents( wish.( .he *aused$ and drew a lon" breath before *roceedin". A short ti!e after this$ the re"i!ent of her lo+er was ordered out to India$ in which *estiferous country he took a !alicious fe+er and e&*ired. .he has no relati+es left now$ thou"h so frail and delicate$ but li+es with an old !aid in a +ery s!all do!icile. .he is culti+ated to an e&tre!e$ and is so fond of !usic that$ thou"h her house is too s!all to ad!it of the *ianoforte enterin" by the door$ she had it introduced by the window of the 8salon8$ which had to be unbricked##the window$ I !ean. .he has$ !oreo+er$ three +iolins##one of which belon"ed to her e+er#to#be#la!ented fiancE##and$ thou"h she is too frail to stand$ she will sit$ when her health *er!its$ and !ake !usic for hours to"ether. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse uttered the last words on the threshold of the house$ and Barbara did not know whether to lau"h or to cry at such a story bein" told in such a way. The door was o*ened by the old !aid$ )eannette$ who wore a 5uaint !ob ca* and s*otless a*ron$ and who followed the +isitors into the roo!$ and$ ha+in" introduced the! to her !istress$ seated herself in one corner and took u* her knittin" as co!*any$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse whis*ered to Barbara. The latter thou"ht she had ne+er before seen such a char!in" old lady as 7ade!oiselle 9irE$ who now rose to "reet the!$ and she wondered how any one who had known her in the !any#churched Rouen days could ha+e *arted fro! her. .he talked for a little while to 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ then turned "ently to Barbara. 2o you *lay$ !ade!oiselleA little$ the "irl returned hesitatin"ly1 not enou"h$ I(! afraid$ to "i+e "reat *leasure.

But 7ade!oiselle 9irE rose with flushed cheeks. Ah% then$ will you do !e the kindness to *lay so!e acco!*ani!entsThat is one of the few thin"s !y "ood )eannette cannot do for !e$ and al!ost before Barbara realised it she was sittin" on a hi"h#backed chair before the *iano in the little 8salon8$ while 7ade!oiselle 9irE sou"ht ea"erly for her !usic. The roo! was so s!all that$ with 7ade!oiselle ThErDse and the !aid )eannette##who see!ed to be e&*ected to follow her !istress##there see!ed hardly roo! to !o+e in it$ and Barbara was all the !ore ner+ous by the nearness of her audience. It certainly was rather an&ious work$ for thou"h the little lady was char!in"ly courteous$ she would not allow a *assa"e *layed wron"ly to "o without correction. I think we were not 5uite to"ether there##were we- she would say. 7ay we *lay it throu"h a"ain- and Barbara would blush u* to her hair$ for she knew the +iolinist had *layed 8her8 *art *erfectly. .he en4oyed it$ thou"h$ in s*ite of her ner+ousness$ and was sorry when it was ti!e to "o. 0ou will co!e a"ain$ I ho*e- her hostess asked. 0ou ha+e "i+en !e a ha**y ti!e. Then turnin" ea"erly to )eannette$ she added$ 2id I *lay well to#day$ )eannetteThe 5uaint old !aid rose at once fro! her seat at the door$ and ca!e across the roo! to *ut her !istress(s ca* strai"ht. 7ada!e *layed better than I ha+e e+er heard her$ she re*lied. Barbara had been so *leased with e+erythin" that she went a"ain a few days later by herself$ and this ti!e was led into the "arden$ which$ like the house$ was +ery s!all$ but full of roses and other sweet#s!ellin" thin"s. 7ada!e##for Barbara noticed that !ost *eo*le see!ed to call her so##was busy waterin" her flowers$ and had on bi" "lo+es and an a*ron. 3hen she saw the "irl co!in"$ she ca!e forward to welco!e her$ sayin"$ with a de*recatory !o+e!ent towards her a*ron## But this a*ron%##These "lo+es% Had I known it was you$ !ade!oiselle$ I should ha+e chan"ed the! and !ade !yself see!ly. 3hy did you not warn !e$ )eannette7ada!e should not work in the "arden and heat herself$ the old wo!an said do""edly1 she should let !e do that.

But !ada!e lau"hed "aily. 'h$ but !y flowers know when I water the!$ and could not bear to ha+e !e lea+e the! alto"ether to others. Then$ in e&*lanation to her +isitor$ It is an old 5uarrel between )eannette and !e. Is it not$ !y friend- Now I a! hot and thirsty. 3ill you brin" us so!e of your "ood wine$ )eannetteThey were sittin" in a little bower al!ost co+ered with roses$ and Barbara felt as if she !ust be in a *retty drea!$ when the !aid ca!e back bearin" two slender#ste!!ed wine#"lasses and a !usty bottle co+ered with cobwebs. It is +ery old indeed$ !ada!e e&*lained. )eannette and I !ade it$ when we were youn"$ fro! the walnuts in our "arden in Rouen. Ha+in" filled both "lasses$ she raised her own$ and said$ with a "raceful bow$ 0our health$ !ade!oiselle$ and after takin" a si* she turned to )eannette$ re*eatin"$ 0our health$ )eannette. 3hereu*on the old wo!an curtsied wonderfully low considerin" her stiff knees. Barbara did not like the wine +ery !uch$ but she would ha+e drunk se+eral "lasses to *lease her hostess$ thou"h$ fortunately$ she was not asked to do so. They had a lon" talk$ and the old lady related !any interestin" tales about the life in Rouen and in Paris$ where she had often been$ so that the ti!e s*ed all too 5uickly for the "irl. 3hen she "ot ho!e she found two +isitors$ who were sittin" under the trees in the "arden waitin" to ha+e tea. 'ne was an En"lish "irl of about fourteen$ who! Barbara thou"ht looked both unha**y and sulky. The other was one of the ladies whose school she was at. This is Alice 7eynell$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse said with so!e fer+our$ and$ Alice$ 8this8 is a fellow#countrywo!an of your own. But the introduction did not see! to !ake the "irl any ha**ier$ and she hardly s*oke all tea#ti!e$ thou"h 7arie did her best to carry on a con+ersation. 3hen she had returned to work with 7ade!oiselle /oirE$ the business of entertain!ent fell to Barbara$ who *ro*osed a walk round the "arden. At first the +isitor did not see! to care for the idea$ but when the !istress with her su""ested it was too hot to walk about$ she i!!ediately 4u!*ed u* and said there was nothin" she would like better.

There see!ed to be few sub4ects that interested her1 but when$ al!ost in des*eration$ Barbara asked how she liked ,rance$ she suddenly burst forth into s*eech. I hate it$ she cried +iciously. I detest it and the *eo*le I a! with$ who ne+er let !e out of their si"ht. (.*ies$( I call the!##(s*ies$( not teachers. They e+en co!e with !e to church##one of the! at least##and I feel as if I were in *rison. But surely there is no har! in their co!in" to church with youBarbara said. Besides$ in ,rance$ you know$ they ha+e such strict ideas about cha*erones that it(s 5uite natural for the! to be careful. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse "oes al!ost e+erywhere with !e$ and I a! a "ood deal older than you are. But they(re 8not8 Protestants##I(! sure they(re not$ the "irl returned hotly. They shouldn(t co!e to church with !e1 they only *retend. Besides$ they don(t follow the other "irls about nearly as carefully. The worst of it is that I ha+e to stay here for the holidays$ too. .he see!ed +ery !iserable about it$ and Barbara thou"ht it !i"ht relie+e her to confide in so!e one$ and$ after a little skilful 5uestionin"$ the whole story ca!e out. Her !other was dead$ and her father in the 3est Indies$ and thou"h she wrote hi! often and fully about e+erythin"$ she ne+er "ot any answers to her 5uestions$ so that she was sure *eo*le o*ened her letters and *ut in different news. .he was afraid the sa!e thin" was done with her father(s letters to her$ because once so!ethin" was said by !istake that could ha+e been learned only by readin" the news intended for her eyes alone. He ne+er saw the *lace$ the "irl continued. He took !e to !y aunt in En"land$ who *ro!ised to find !e a school. .he thou"ht the whole business a nuisance$ and was only too "lad to find a *lace 5uickly where they(d kee* !e for the holidays too. .he ne+er asks !e to "o to En"land##not that I would if she wanted !e to. There were an"ry tears in the "irl(s eyes$ and Barbara thou"ht the case really did see! rather a hard one$ thou"h it was clear her co!*anion had been s*oiled at ho!e$ and had *robably had her own way before co!in" to school. It does sound rather horrid$ Barbara a"reed$ and three years !ust

see! a lon" ti!e1 but it will "o at last$ you know. The "irl shook her head. Too slowly$ far too slowly##it 4ust crawls. I ne+er ha+e any one to talk thin"s o+er with$ either$ you see$ for I can(t trust the ,rench "irls1 they carry tales$ I know. E+en now##look how she watches !e1 she lon"s to know what I(! sayin". Barbara looked round$ and it was true that the +isitor see!ed !ore interested in watchin" the! than in 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s con+ersation1 and$ directly she cau"ht Barbara(s eye$ she "ot u* hastily and said they !ust "o. Alice 7eynell i!!ediately rela*sed into sulkiness a"ain1 but$ 4ust as she was sayin" "ood#bye$ she !ana"ed to whis*er## I shall run away soon. I know I can(t stand it !uch lon"er. The others were too near for Barbara to do !ore than "i+e her a war! s5uee:e of the hand1 but she watched the "irl out of si"ht$ feelin" +ery sorry for her. If she had li+ed a free#and#easy life on her father(s *lantation$ ne+er ha+in" known a !other(s care$ it was no wonder that she should be a little wild and find her *resent life irkso!e. .he looks 5uite e5ual to doin" so!ethin" des*erate$ Barbara thou"ht$ as she turned to "o in to su**er. I !ust try to see her a"ain soon$ for who knows what !ad ideas a "irl of only fifteen !ay take into her head%

CHAPTER K. THE A7ERICAN PRETEN2ER. An in+itation has co!e fro! 7onsieur 2ubois to +isit the! at 2ol$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse e&clai!ed with *ride$ on o*enin" her letters one !ornin". It is really *articularly kind and nice of hi!. He includes 8you8$ she added$ turnin" to Barbara. The "irl had to think a few !o!ents before re!e!berin" that 7onsieur 2ubois was the fa!ily friend for whose sake the sisters had sunk their "rie+ances$ and then she was "enuinely *leased at the in+itation.

Now$ which of us shall "o- !ade!oiselle *roceeded. It is clear we cannot 8all8 do so$ and she looked in5uirin"ly at her sister. 7arie and I are 8!uch8 too busy to acce*t in+itations ri"ht and left like that$ 7ade!oiselle /oirE re*lied loftily. ,or *eo*le like you and 7ade!oiselle Barbara$ who ha+e *lenty of leisure$ it will be a +ery suitable e&cursion$ I i!a"ine. Barbara looked a little an&iously at the youn"er sister$ fearin" she !i"ht be stirred u* to wrath by the +eiled slur on her character1 but *robably she was *leased enou"h to be the one to "o$ whate+er e&cuse 7ade!oiselle /oirE chose to "i+e. Indeed$ her !ood had been wonderfully a!icable for se+eral days. /et !e see$ she said$ lookin" !editati+ely at Barbara. 0ou ha+e been lon"in" to ride 8so!ethin"8 e+er since you ca!e here$ and since you ha+e not been able to find a horse$ how would it do to hire a bicycle$ and co!e only so far in the train with !e and ride the rest of the wayBarbara(s eyes shone. This 8was8 a concession on 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s *art$ for she had hitherto a**arently been !ost unwillin" for the "irl to be out of her si"ht for any len"th of ti!e$ and had assured her that there was no *ossibility of "ettin" ridin" lessons in the nei"hbourhood. 3hat had brou"ht her to !ake this *ro*osal now Barbara could not i!a"ine. That would be a *erfectly lo+ely *lan$ she cried. 0ou are an an"el to think of it$ !ade!oiselle. At which re!ark the lady in 5uestion was !uch flattered. The ne&t !ornin" they started in "ay s*irits$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse arrayed in her best$ which always *roduced a feelin" of wonder!ent in Barbara. The lady certainly had not a ,renchwo!an(s usual taste$ and her choice of colours was not always ha**y$ thou"h she herself was blissfully content about her a**earance. I a! "lad you *ut on that *retty watch and chain$ she said a**ro+in"ly to her co!*anion$ when they were in the train. I always try to !ake an i!*ression when I "o to 2ol$ for 7ada!e 2ubois is a 8+ery8 fashionable lady. .he stroked down her !au+e skirt co!*lacently$ and Barbara thou"ht that she could not fail to !ake an i!*ression of so!e kind. .he was entertained as they went alon"$ by stories about the cle+erness and *osition of the lawyer$ and the char!s of his wife$ and the deli"hts of

his dau"hter$ till Barbara felt 5uite ner+ous at the idea of !eetin" such an a!ount of "oodness$ fashion$ and wit in its own house. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse allowed herself 4ust a little ti!e to "i+e directions as to the route the "irl was to take on lea+in" her$ and Barbara re*eated the turnin"s she had to take a"ain and a"ain till there see!ed no *ossibility of !akin" a !istake. After the first short distance you reach the hi"hroad$ !ade!oiselle called after her as she left the carria"e$ so I ha+e no fear about allowin" you to "o1 it is a well#trodden hi"hroad$ too$ and not !any kilo!etres. I shall be all ri"ht$ thank you$ Barbara said "leefully$ thinkin" how nice it was to esca*e into the fresh$ sunny air after the close third#class carria"e. There is no sea to catch !e 8this8 ti!e$ you know. 7ade!oiselle shook her fin"er at her. Nau"hty$ nau"hty% to re!ind !e of that terrible ti!e##it al!ost !akes !e fear to let you "o. At which Barbara !ounted hastily$ in case she should be called back$ althou"h the train had be"un to !o+e. Re*eat your directions$ her co!*anion shrieked after her$ and the "irl$ with a lau"h$ !ur!ured to herself$ Turn to the ri"ht$ then the left$ by a lar"e house$ then throu"h a narrow lane$ and 8+oilC8 the hi"h#road% .he had no doubt at all about knowin" the! *erfectly. Unfortunately for her calculations$ when she ca!e to the turnin"#*oint there were 8two8 lanes leadin" off ri"ht and left$ and on this *oint 7ade!oiselle ThErDse had "i+en her no instructions. There was nobody near to ask. .o$ after considerin" the! both$ she decided to take the one that looked widest. After all$ if it were wron"$ she could easily turn back. .he had "one but a little way$ howe+er$ when she saw another cyclist a**roachin"$ and$ thinkin" that here was a chance to find out if she were ri"ht before "oin" any farther$ she 4u!*ed off her !achine and stood waitin". 3hen the new#co!er was 5uite close to her she noticed that he was not a +ery *re*ossessin" indi+idual$ and re!e!bered that she had been warned in forei"n countries always to look at *eo*le before s*eakin" to the!. But it was too late then. .o !akin" the best of it$ she asked boldly which was the nearest way to 2ol. The !an stared at her for a !o!ent$ then said she should "o strai"ht on$ and would soon arri+e at the hi"hroad.

But I will conduct you so far if you like$ !ada!e$ he added. Barbara had seen hi! lookin" rather intently at her watch and chain$ howe+er$ and be"an to feel a little uneasy. 'h$ no$ thank you$ she re4oined hastily. I can !ana"e +ery well !yself$ and$ s*rin"in" on to her bicycle$ set off at a "ood s*eed. He stood in the road for a few !inutes as if !editatin"1 but$ when she looked back at the corner$ she saw that he had !ounted too$ and was co!in" down the road after her. There !i"ht be no har! in that1 but it did not add to her ha**iness1 and the watch and chain$ which had been Aunt Anne(s last "ift to her$ see!ed to wei"h hea+ily u*on her neck. There was no thou"ht now of turnin"1 but$ thou"h she *edalled her hardest$ she could not see any si"ns of a hi"hroad in front of her$ and was sure she !ust ha+e taken the wron" lane. Indeed$ to her dis!ay$ when she "ot a little farther down the road$ it narrowed still !ore and ran throu"h a wood. .he was 5uite sure now that the !an was chasin" her$ and wondered if she would e+er "et to 2ol at all. It see!ed to be her fate to be chased by so!ethin" on her e&cursions$ and she was not 5uite sure whether she *referred esca*in" on her own feet or a bicycle. At first he did not "ain u*on her !uch$ and$ if she had had her own !achine$ and had been in "ood trainin"$ *erha*s she !i"ht ha+e outdistanced hi!1 but there did not a**ear to be !uch chance of that at *resent. .he was thankful to see a shar* descent in front of her$ and let herself "o at a break#neck s*eed1 but$ unfortunately$ there was an e5ually stee* hill to cli!b on the other side$ and she would ha+e to "et off and walk. .he was 4ust !akin" u* her !ind to turn round and bra+e it out$ and kee* her watch##if *ossible##when she saw so!ethin" on the "rass by the roadside$ a little ahead of her$ that !ade her heart lea* with relief and *leasure##na!ely$ a *uff of s!oke$ and a fi"ure clad in a brown tweed suit. .he was sure$ e+en after a !ere hurried "lance$ that the owner of the suit !ust be En"lish$ for it bore the sta!* of an En"lish tailor$ and the bree:e bore her un!istakable whiffs of Harris. .he did not wait a !o!ent$ but lea*ed fro! her bicycle and sank down *antin" on the "rass near$ alar!in" the stran"er##who had been nearly aslee*##considerably. He 4erked hi!self into a sittin" *osition$ and burned hi!self with his ci"arette. 3ho the dickens#### he be"an1 then hastily took off his ca* and be""ed the "irl(s *ardon$ to which she could not re*ly for

breathlessness. But he see!ed to understand what was needed at once$ for$ after a swift "lance fro! her to the !an who was close at hand now$ he said in loud$ cheerful tones## Ah% Here you are at last. I a! "lad you cau"ht !e u*. 3e(ll 4ust ha+e a little rest$ then "o cal!ly on our way. 0ou should not ride so 5uickly on a hot day. The !an was abreast of the! now$ and looked +ery hard at both as he *assed$ but did not sto*$ and Barbara hea+ed a lon" si"h of relief. I(! so +ery sorry$ she said at last. Please understand I a! not in the habit of lea*in" down beside *eo*le like that$ only I(+e had this watch and chain such a 8+ery8 short ti!e$ and I was so afraid he(d take the!. And how do you know that they will be any safer with !e- he asked$ with a wicked twinkle in his eyes. Because I saw you were an En"lish!an$ of course$ she re4oined cal!ly. The youn" !an lau"hed. Pardon !e$ you are wron"$ for I a! an A!erican. Barbara(s cheeks could hardly "row !ore flushed$ but she felt unco!fortably hot. I a! so sorry$ she sta!!ered$ "ettin" u* hurriedly1 I really thou"ht it was an En"lish!an$ and felt##at ho!e$ you know. Please continue to think so if it !akes you any ha**ier1 and##I think you had better stay a little lon"er before "oin" on##the fellow !i"ht be waitin" farther down the road. Barbara subsided a"ain. .he had no desire to ha+e any further encounter with the ,rench cyclist. 7eanwhile$ the stran"er had taken one or two ra*id "lances at her$ and the sur*rise on his face "rew. 3here are the rest of the *arty- he asked *resently. The rest of the *arty has "one on by train$ and Barbara lau"hed. Poor *arty$ it would be so horribly alar!ed if it could see !e now. I always see! to be alar!in" it.

I don(t wonder$ if it is always as careless as on the *resent occasion. 3hate+er *ossessed he$ she$ or it$ to let you co!e alon" by yourself like this- It was !ost cul*ably careless. 'h$ no$ indeed. It is what I ha+e been be""in" for since I ca!e to Brittany##indeed it is. .he "a+e !e 8!ost8 careful directions as to what turnin"s to take ##and Barbara re*eated the! !errily## it was only that I was silly enou"h to take the wron" one. And now I really !ust be "ettin" on$ or *oor 7ade!oiselle ThErDse will be distracted. Please$ does this road lead to 2ol2ol- he re*eated 5uickly. 0es$ certainly. I a! 4ust "oin" there$ and##and intend to *ass the ni"ht in the *lace. I(! on a walkin" tour$ and##if you don(t !ind walkin"##I know there(s a short cut that would be al!ost as 5uick as cyclin"1 the hi"h road is a "ood distance off yet. Barbara hesitated. The fear of !eetin" any !ore tra!*s was stron" u*on her$ and her *resent co!*anion had a frank$ honest face$ and steady "ray eyes. I don(t want 7ade!oiselle ThErDse to be fri"htened by bein" any later than necessary$ she said doubtfully. I really think this will be as 5uick as the other road##if you will trust !e$ he returned. And Barbara yielded. It certainly was a +ery *retty way$ leadin" across the fields and throu"h a beech wood$ and they !ana"ed to lift the bicycle o+er the "ates without any difficulty. The "irl was a little sur*rised by the unerrin" !anner in which her co!*anion see!ed to "o forward without e+en once consultin" a !a*1 but when she co!*li!ented hi! on the fact he looked a little unco!fortable$ and assured her that he had an e&cellent head for direction. It was +ery nice !eetin" so!e one who was al!ost an En"lish!an$ and they talked "aily all the ti!e$ till the s5uare tower of 2ol Cathedral ca!e into +iew##one of the "randest$ her "uide assured her$ that he had seen in Brittany. They had 4ust entered the outskirts of the town when they *assed a little 8auber"e8$ where the innkee*er was standin" at the door. He stared +ery hard at the!$ then lifted his hat$ and cried with sur*rise$ Back a"ain$ !onsieur1 why$ I thou"ht you were half way to .t. 7alo by this ti!e.

Then the truth struck Barbara in a flash$ and she had only to look at her co!*anion(s face to know she was ri"ht. 0ou were "oin" the other way$ she cried## of course you were##and you turned back on !y account. No wonder you knew your way throu"h the wood% He "a+e an e!barrassed lau"h. I(! sorry##I really did not !ean to decei+e you e&actly. I 8ha+e8 a "ood head for (direction.( And you ca!e all that lon" way back with !e I It 8was8 "ood of you. I really#### But he interru*ted her. Please don(t "i+e !e thanks when I don(t deser+e the!. This town is such a 5uaint old *lace I a! 5uite "lad to s*end the ni"ht here. And##I really think you ou"ht not to "o hither and thither without the rest of the *arty##I don(t think your aunt would like it. The house you want is strai"ht ahead. Then he took off his ca* and turned away$ and Barbara ne+er re!e!bered$ until he had "one$ that thou"h he had seen her na!e on the label on her bicycle she did not know his. .he christened hi!$ therefore$ the A!erican Pretender$ firstly$ because he looked like an En"lish!an$ and secondly$ because he *retended to be "oin" where he was not. After all$ she was not +ery !uch behind her ti!e$ and$ fortunately$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse had been so interested in the lawyer(s con+ersation that she had not worried about her. Barbara did not s*eak of her encounter with the cyclist$ but !erely said she had "ot out of her way a little$ and had found a kind A!erican who had hel*ed her to find it1 which e&*lanation 5uite satisfied the *arty. The lawyer(s chMteau$ as it was called$ see!ed to Barbara to be +ery like what ,rench houses !ust ha+e been lon" a"o$ and she i!a"ined "rand ladies of the E!*ire ti!e swee*in" u* the lon" fli"ht of ste*s to the terrace$ and across the *olished floors. The 8salon8$ with its thick terra#cotta *a*er$ and "ilded chairs set in stiff rows alon" the walls$ fascinated her too$ and she half e&*ected the lady of the house to co!e in$ clad in hea+y brocade of ancient *attern. But e+erythin" about the lady of the house was +ery !odern$ and Barbara thou"ht 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s "ar!ents had ne+er looked so u"ly. The "irl en4oyed sittin" down to a !eal which was really well ser+ed$ and she found that the lawyer$ thou"h cle+er$ was by no !eans alar!in"$ and that his wife !ade a +ery char!in" hostess.

7ade!oiselle ThErDse was radiatin" *ride and triu!*h at ha+in" been able to introduce her char"e into such a distin"uished fa!ily$ and as each dish was brou"ht u*on the table$ she shot a "lance across at Barbara as !uch as to say$ .ee what we can do%##these are 8!y8 friends% Poor 7ade!oiselle ThErDse% After all$ when she en4oyed such thin"s so !uch$ it was a *ity$ Barbara thou"ht$ that she could not ha+e the! at ho!e. .he was en4oyin"$ too$ discussin" +arious !atters with the lawyer$ for discussion was to her like the +ery breath of life. .he will discuss with the cat if there is no one else by$ her sister had once said dryly$ and will ar"ue with 2eath when he co!es to fetch her. At *resent the to*ic was schools$ and Barbara and 7ada!e 2ubois sat 5uietly by$ listenin". I a! not learned$ !ada!e whis*ered to the "irl$ with a little shru"$ and I know that nothin" she can say will shake !y husband(s o*inion##therefore$ I let her s*eak. 7ade!oiselle was +ery an&ious that his little "irl should "o to school$ and was *ointin" out the ad+anta"es of such education to the lawyer. The latter s!iled incredulously. 3ould you ha+e !e send her to the con+ent school$ where they use the sa!e#knife and fork all the week round$ and wash the! only once a week- he asked conte!*tuously. No$ !ade!oiselle a"reed. As you know$ 7arie used to be there$ and learned +ery little##nothin" !uch$ e&ce*t to sew. No$ I would not send her to the con+ent school. But there are others. A youn" En"lish friend of !ine$ now##7ade!oiselle Barbara knows her too##she is at a +ery select establish!ent##4ust about si& "irls##and so well watched and cared for. Barbara looked u* 5uickly. .he wondered if she dared interru*t and say she did not think it was such an ideal *lace$ when the lawyer s*oke before her. 8Parbleu%8 he said with a lau"h$ I should *refer the con+ent% There at least the reli"ion is honest$ but##with those ladies you !ention##there is deceit. They *retend to be what they are not.

'h$ but no% 7ade!oiselle ThErDse e&clai!ed. 3hy$ they 8are8 Protestants. The lawyer shru""ed his shoulders. Belie+e it if you will$ !y dear friend$ but we lawyers know !ost thin"s$ and I know that what I say is true. 3hen !y little HElDne "oes to school she shall not "o to such. 7eanwhile$ I a! content to kee* her at ho!e. .o a! I$ !ur!ured 7ada!e 2ubois. .chools are such +ul"ar *laces$ are they notBut Barbara$ to who! the re!ark was addressed$ was too !uch interested in this last *iece of news to do !ore than answer shortly. ,or if what the lawyer said were true##and he did not see! a !an likely to !ake !istakes##then Alice 7eynell !i"ht really ha+e sufficient cause to be !iserable$ and Barbara wondered when she would see her a"ain$ which was to be sooner than she e&*ected.

CHAPTER KI. BARBARA TURN. P/'TTER. The day after her e&*edition to 2ol$ Barbara saw Alice 7eynell a"ain$ and in rather a stran"e !eetin"#*lace##na!ely$ the *ublic bath#house. The house in which the /oirEs li+ed was an old#fashioned one$ and had no bath$ and at first Barbara had looked with horror u*on the bath#house. .he had beco!e !ore reconciled to it of late$ and$ as it was the only !eans of obtainin" a hot bath$ had tried to !ake the best of it. It was a funny little *lace$ entered by a narrow *assa"e$ at one end of which there was a bookin"#office$ and a swin" door$ where you could buy a season#ticket$ or *ay for each +isit se*arately. 'n one side of the *assa"e there were rows of little bathroo!s$ containin" what Barbara thou"ht the narrowest !ost unco!fortable baths i!a"inable. A boy in felt sli**ers ran u* and down$ turnin" on the water$ and a wo!an sat workin" at a little table at one end## to see you did not steal the towels$ Barbara declared. It was here she !et Alice 7eynell$ under the care of an old attendant$ who! the "irl said she knew was a s*y sent to re*ort e+erythin" she said or did.

7ade!oiselle$ who ca!e with !e to call the other day$ has taken a "reat dislike to you$ Alice whis*ered hurriedly in *assin"1 and when I asked if I !i"ht "o to see you a"ain$ said$ (No$ it was such a *ity to talk En"lish when I was here to learn ,rench.( I a! 85uite8 deter!ined to run away. The boy announced that the bath was ready$ and the old attendant$ *uttin" her watch on the table$ said## Be 5uick$ !ade!oiselle. 'nly twenty !inutes$ you know. Before lea+in" the *lace$ Barbara !ana"ed to "et a !o!ent(s s*eech$ in which she be""ed Alice not to do anythin" until they !et a"ain$ and !eanwhile she would try hard to think of so!e *lan to !ake thin"s easier1 for the "irl really looked +ery des*erate$ and Barbara had so often acted as the confidante of her own brother and sister that she was accusto!ed to *layin" the *art of co!forter. It see!ed to her that if Alice wanted to run away$ she had better do it as well as *ossible$ for the "irl was wilful enou"h to try to carry out any wild *lan she !i"ht concei+e. Barbara thou"ht of !any thin"s$ but they all see!ed silly or i!*ossible$ and finally "ot no further than !akin" u* her !ind to !eet Alice a"ain at the bath#house. The e+ents of the afternoon$ !oreo+er$ *ut her countrywo!an out of her head for the ti!e bein"$ for she found what she had been lon"in" for e+er since she ca!e##a ridin"#!aster. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse had lon" talked of takin" her across the bay to 2inard$ to +isit so!e friends there$ but hitherto no suitable occasion had been found. The deli"hts of a boot and shoe sale$ of which !ade!oiselle had recei+ed notice$ re!inded her of her intentions of showin" Barbara that fa!ous seaside resort$ and after an early lunch they set out for 2inard. Business first$ !ade!oiselle said on landin"1 we will hasten to the sale$ and when I ha+e !ade !y *urchases we will stroll into the *ark$ and then +isit !y friend. If you don(t !ind I will stay outside and watch the *eo*le$ Barbara *ro*osed$ on reachin" the sho* and seein" the crowds inside. I won(t stray fro! 4ust near the window$ so you !ay lea+e !e 5uite safely##and it looks so hot in there.

Her co!*anion de!urred for a !o!ent$ but finally a"reed$ and Barbara with relief turned round to watch the *eo*le *assin" to and fro. 2inard see!ed +ery "ay and fashionable$ she thou"ht$ and there was 5uite a nu!ber of En"lish and A!ericans there. .urely in such a *lace one !i"ht find a ridin"#school. There was a row of 8fiacres8 5uite close to the *a+e!ent$ and$ sei:ed by this new idea$ she hurried u* to one of the dri+ers and asked hi! if he knew of any horses to be hired in the town. .he had feared her ,rench !i"ht not be e5ual to the e&*lanation$ and was +ery "lad when he understood$ and still !ore *leased to hear that there was an e&cellent 8!anD"e8$G=H which !any *eo*le +isited. After in5uirin" the na!e of the street$ she returned to her sho* window$ lon"in" for !ade!oiselle to co!e out. Her *atience was nearly e&hausted when that lady finally a**eared$ ha+in" bou"ht nothin". I tried on a "reat !any boots and so!e shoes$ she e&*lained$ and did not care for any. Indeed$ I really did not need new ones1 but I ha+e seen sa!*les of !uch of their stock. In the !idst of the intense satisfaction of this *erfor!ance$ the "irl brou"ht her news of a ridin"#school$ which e+idently was not +ery welco!e to her co!*anion. .he had$ as a !atter of fact$ known of the e&istence of such a *lace$ but did not a**ro+e of e5uestrian e&ercise for wo!en 1 !oreo+er$ she had *ictured so !uch e&ertion to herself in connection with the idea of ridin" lessons$ that she had been +ery undesirous of Barbara(s be"innin" the!$ and had$ therefore$ not encoura"ed the idea. But the secret of the school bein" out$ she resol+ed to !ake the best of it$ and a"reed to "o round at once and see the *lace. They had little difficulty in findin" it$ and were ushered into an office$ where a +ery i!!aculate ,rench!an recei+ed the!$ and in5uired how he could ser+e the!. 'n hearin" their errand he s!iled still !ore *leasantly$ and in a few !inutes e+erythin" was settled. Barbara was to co!e o+er twice a week and ha+e lessons$ and$ if she cared$ !i"ht be"in that afternoon. The only drawback was that she had no skirt$ which$ he assured her with a swee*in" bow$ he could easily re!edy$ for he had an al!ost new one on the *re!ises$ and would think it an honour to lend it to her. He was *oliteness itself$ and see!ed not in the least da!*ed by 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s e+ident "loo!. He conducted her u* to the "allery at one end of the school$ and e&*lained that she could watch

e+ery !o+e!ent fro! that +anta"e#*oint. It will be al!ost as "ood as ha+in" a lesson yourself$ !ada!e$ he said *olitely$ twirlin" his fierce "ray !ustachios. At the other end of the school was a lar"e lookin"#"lass$ which he told Barbara was to enable the *u*ils to obser+e their de*ort!ent1 but she noticed that he always stood in the !iddle of the rin"$ where he watched his own actions with "reat *leasure. The "irl thou"ht it a little dull at first$ for she had been "i+en an a!iable old horse who knew the words of co!!and so well that the reins were al!ost useless$ and who a!bled alon" in a slow and *eaceful !anner. But 7onsieur Pirenne was entirely satisfied with his *u*il$ and he assured her$ if she continued to !ake such stu*endous *ro"ress in the ne&t lesson$ he would ha+e the felicity of takin" her out in the followin" one. At this 7ade!oiselle ThErDse shook her head *ensi+ely. Then I !ust take a carria"e and follow you$ she said. Barbara lau"hed. 'h$ dear$ !ade!oiselle$ do think how i!*ossible that would be$ she e&*lained$ seein" the lady looked so!ewhat offended. If we took to the fields how could you follow us in a carria"e- No1 4ust think how nice it will be to see so !uch of your friend while I a! out. This +iew of the case so!ewhat reconciled 7ade!oiselle ThErDse to the idea$ thou"h her content!ent +anished when she found that the wind had increased considerably durin" the afternoon$ and that the !outh of the ri+er was be"innin" to look a little disturbed. They stood on the end of the 5uay$ waitin" the arri+al of the stea!boat$ and !ade!oiselle shook her head "loo!ily. It is not that I a! a bad sailor$ you know$ she e&*lained1 but$ when there is !uch !o+e!ent$ it affects !y ner+es and !akes !e feel faint. Barbara looked steadfastly out to sea. .he did not want to hurt 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s feelin"s by o*enly showin" her a!use!ent. It is +ery un*leasant to ha+e such delicate ner+es$ her co!*anion continued1 but I was e+er thus##fro! a child.

But at this ti!e of year we shall not often ha+e a stor!y *assa"e$ co!forted Barbara. At that !o!ent a "ust of wind$ !ore sudden than usual$ *layfully cau"ht 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s hat$ and bore it o+er the 5uay into the water. 7y hat% she shrieked. 'h$ sa+e !y hat% Barbara ran forward to the ed"e$ but it had been carried too far for her to reach e+en with a stick or u!brella. 7y hat% !ade!oiselle cried a"ain$ turnin" to the *eo*le on the *ier$ who were waitin" for the ferry. Rescue !y hat##!y 8best8 hat% At this stirrin" a**eal se+eral !o+ed forward and looked s!ilin"ly at the doo!ed head#"ear1 and one kind little ,rench!an stoo*ed down and tried to catch it with the end of his stick$ but failed. 7ade!oiselle "rew des*erate. If you cannot "et the hat$ "et the hat#*ins$ she wailed. They are sil+er#"ilt##and *resents. ,our fine lar"e hat#*ins. Then$ seein" that se+eral *eo*le were lau"hin"$ she "rew an"ry. And you call yoursel+es 8!en8$ and ,rench!en% Can none of you swi!3hy do you stand there !ockin"It is such an u"ly hat$ an En"lish!an !ur!ured near Barbara. It would be a sin to sa+e such an inartistic creation. But she will "et another 4ust as bad$ Barbara said$ with dancin" eyes. And##it is her best one% Cowards% !ade!oiselle cried a"ain$ leanin" futilely o+er the 5uay. I tell you$ it is not only the hat$ but the hat#*ins. 'h% to see it drown before !y eyes$ and none bra+e enou"h to brin" it back% This *iece of rhetoric see!ed to !o+e one ,rench youth$ who slowly be"an to unlace his boots$ thou"h with what ob4ect one could not be 5uite sure. It is such a *articularly u"ly hat$ the En"lish!an continued critically. Those "reat roses like starin" eyes on each side$ with no re"ard for colour or anythin" else.

But the colour won(t be nearly so bri"ht after this bath$ Barbara su""ested1 then added *ersuasi+ely$ And really$ you know$ she took a lon" ti!e o+er it. Couldn(t you reach it easily fro! that boat##the ferry is so near now$ and it would dri+e her distracted to see the roses churned u* by the *addle#wheels. The En"lish!an looked fro! the a"itated ,renchwo!an to the blots of colour on the water$ that were beco!in" *ale and sha*eless1 then he !o+ed la:ily towards the boat. )ust as he was "ettin" into it he looked back at Barbara. .he won(t e!brace !e##will she- he asked. If so#### 'h$ no$ Barbara assured hi!. Hand it u* to her on the end of the oar. 3ell$ he said$ unshi**in" one$ it is a"ainst !y conscience to sa+e anythin" so hideous. But the fault lies with you$ and as you will *robably "o on seein" it$ you will ha+e *unish!ent enou"h. A few !inutes later 7ade!oiselle ThErDse recei+ed the sodden hat with ra*ture$ an&iously countin" o+er the hat#*ins$ while the ,rench youth$ with so!e relief$ laced u* his boot a"ain. How noble% !ade!oiselle e&clai!ed. How kind% 0our country!an too$ 7iss Barbara% 3here is he that I !ay thank hi!If you lin"er you will !iss the ferry$ Barbara inter*osed. .ee$ here it is$ !ade!oiselle$ and her co!*anion reluctantly turned fro! the *ursuit of the stran"er to "o on board$ clas*in" her hat in triu!*h. Barbara thou"ht$ as she followed her$ that if the fastidious rescuer had but seen her 4oy in her reco+ered treasure$ he would ha+e felt rewarded for his e&ertions in sa+in" a thin" so u"ly.

G=H Ridin"#.chool.

CHAPTER KII. THE P/'T THICIEN..

The ne&t ti!e Barbara went to the baths she chose the day and the hour at which Alice had told her she was usually taken$ and was "reatly *leased when she saw the "irl waitin" in the *assa"e. But as soon as the old ser+ant saw her she ed"ed farther off with her char"e$ who lifted her eyebrows in a su""esti+e !anner$ as if to say$ 0ou see$ !y s*y has been warned. It see!ed as if it would be i!*ossible to hold any con+ersation at all$ but$ fortunately$ they were *ut into ad4oinin" cubicles$ and Barbara found a crack$ which she enlar"ed with her *ocket#knife. .he felt as if she !i"ht be Buy ,awkes$ or so!e such *lotter fro! olden ti!es$ and wondered what he would ha+e done if he really had been *resent. But ha+in" seen how difficult it was e+en to s*eak to Alice$ she was afraid the "irl would take thin"s into her own hands and do so!ethin" silly. Probably it was this feelin" of ur"ency that sti!ulated her$ and the +a"ue ideas which had been floatin" in her brain suddenly crystallised$ and a *lan took sha*e which she *ro!*tly co!!unicated to Alice. The latter$ she *ro*osed$ should "o to Paris$ to the *astor(s fa!ily at Neuilly$ Barbara lendin" her the necessary !oney$ for the "irl was only "i+en a +ery little at a ti!e. ,ro! Paris she could write to her father and e&*lain thin"s$ without any dan"er of ha+in" the letter e&a!ined or altered. The only$ and certainly !ost i!*ortant$ difficulty in the carryin" out of this *lan was that there see!ed no o**ortunity to esca*e e&ce*t at ni"ht$ and e+en then it would need "reat care to sli* *ast 7ade!oiselle Eu"Enie$ who sle*t at one end of the dor!itory. Barbara did not like the ni"ht *lan$ because it would !ean cli!bin" out of the window and wanderin" about in the dark$ or##su**osin" there were a train##tra+ellin" to Paris1 and either alternati+e was too risky for a "irl in a forei"n country$ who did not know her way about. Ba:in" u* at the ceilin" in *er*le&ity o+er this new hitch$ Barbara disco+ered a way out of it$ for there was a "la:ed window not so hi"h but that Alice could !ana"e to cli!b u*$ and if she "ot safely out ;this was another ins*iration<$ she was to run to the widower(s house and hide there till the ti!e for a train to Paris. 'nce safely in that city$ Barbara felt it would be a wei"ht lifted fro! her !ind$ for she really was not +ery ha**y at sharin" in an enter*rise which$ e+en to her ine&*erience$ see!ed !ore fitted for so!e des*erado than a sane En"lish "irl.

Ha+in" be"un$ howe+er$ she felt she !ust "o throu"h with it to the best of her ability$ and undertook to write to Neuilly$ to arran"e with the widower(s son$ and to bribe the bath#boy to "i+e the "irl the only cubicle with a window. As a !atter of fact$ Barbara would ha+e rather sent the "irl to 7ade!oiselle 9irE(s$ but the latter was so frail that the e&cite!ent !i"ht be in4urious to her$ and it was hardly fair to introduce such a whirlwind into her ha+en of *eace. .he had an o**ortunity of s*eakin" to )ean that +ery day$ for he had offered to "i+e her so!e lessons in *hoto"ra*hy$ and she was "oin" to ha+e her first one in the afternoon. The boy was 5uite deli"hted with the thou"ht of ha+in" so!ethin" to break the !onotony of e&istence$ and declared that it was an honour to share in any *lan for the secure of the o**ressed. 3e will inclose her in the *hoto"ra*hic cu*board$ !ade!oiselle$ he said ea"erly$ so that none can see her. 'h$ we will !ana"e well$ I assure you. Barbara si"hed$ fearin" she was doin" al!ost as !ean a thin" as 7arie$ and was +ery doubtful as to what her !other and Aunt Anne would say when they heard of the ad+enture. I shall "o to the look#out station and blow away these !ysteries$ she said to herself$ when the *hoto"ra*hy lesson was o+er1 and the +ery si"ht and s!ell of the sea !ade her feel better. The stea!er fro! 2inard had 4ust unloaded its *assen"ers$ and was stea!in" hurriedly back a"ain with a fresh load$ when a!on" those who had landed she noticed one that see!ed not alto"ether stran"e to her. .he drew nearer$ and was sure of it$ and the +isitor turnin" round at the sa!e !o!ent$ the reco"nition was !utual. It was the A!erican Pretender. I was 4ust "oin" to ask where 7ade!oiselle /oirE li+ed$ he said "aily$ with the intent of callin" u*on you. How obli"in" of you to be here when the stea!boat arri+ed. Barbara lau"hed. I often co!e here to look across at dear .t. 7alo$ and "et the bree:e fro! the sea$ she e&*lained. Besides$ I like watchin" the ferries$ they are so fussy##and the *eo*le in the! too$ so!eti!es. But how did you "et hereNot ha+in" !et any !ore rash and runaway da!sels who! I had to escort back to 2ol$ I succeeded in reachin" .t. 7alo$ and it is not unusual

for +isitors to "o to 2inard and .t. .er+an fro! there. But$ a*art fro! that$ he went on$ I found out so!ethin" so interestin" that I thou"ht I !ust call and tell you##bein" in the nei"hbourhood. That was awfully nice of you$ said Barbara "ratefully$ and I(! so curious to hear. Please be"in at once. 0ou ha+e *lenty ti!e to tell !e before we reach the house$ and !ade!oiselle !ust e&cuse !e talkin" 4ust a 8little8 En"lish. I think the occasion 4ustifies it$ he a"reed$ s!ilin"1 then added a*olo"etically$ I ho*e you won(t !ind it bein" a little *ersonal. I told you I had co!e to Euro*e with !y uncle$ didn(t I- 7y father left !e to his care when I was 5uite a little cha*$ and he has been i!!ensely "ood to !e. 3e are "reat friends$ and always share thin"s##when we can. He could not share this walkin" tour because he had business in Paris$ but I write hi! lon" screeds to kee* hi! u* in !y !o+e!ents. In answer to the letter about our 2ol ad+enture$ !y uncle wrote back to say that he had known an En"lish lady lon" a"o called 7iss Anne Britton$ and he wondered if this were any relation##the na!e was rather unco!!on. The A!erican *aused$ and looked at his co!*anion. Please "o on$ she cried$ it is so +ery e&citin"$ and surely it !ust ha+e been Aunt Anne. He knew her so well$ the youn" !an continued slowly$ that##he asked her to !arry hi!$ and##she refused. Barbara drew a lon" breath. 'h% ,ancy Aunt Anne ha+in" a ro!antic story like that% I 8should8 like to write and ask her about it. But$ of course$ I can(t1 she !i"ht not like it. Then$ turnin" 5uickly to the A!erican$ she added$ I su**ose your uncle won(t !ind your ha+in" told !e$ will heThe youn" !an flushed. I ho*e not. He doesn(t often s*eak of such thin"s1 and$ thou"h I knew there had been so!ethin" of the kind$ I didn(t know her na!e. 'f course#### He hesitated. 0es- said Barbara. 'f course$ I know you will consider it a story to think about##and not to s*eak of. But I thou"ht$ as it was your aunt$ it would interest you.

It does. I(! +ery "lad you told !e$ because it !akes !e understand Aunt Anne better$ I think. Poor Aunt Anne% Althou"h$ *erha*s$ you think your uncle is the one to be sorriest for. I a! "oin" to 4oin hi! in Paris to#!orrow$ he re*lied a little irrele+antly. To Paris% To#!orrow% echoed Barbara$ the thou"ht of Alice rushin" into her !ind. 'h$ I wonder##it would be !uch better##I wonder if you could do !e a fa+our- It 8would8 be such a relief to tell an En"lish *erson about it. An A!erican$ he corrected. But *erha*s that would do as well. I ho*e it is not another runaway bicycleBut it 4ust 8is8 another runaway e&*edition##thou"h not a bicycle$ said the "irl$ and thereu*on *oured into his ears the story of Alice 7eynell and her woes. At first he lau"hed$ and said she was in dan"er of beco!in" 5uite an acco!*lished *lotter1 but$ as the story went on$ he "rew "ra+e. It is a !ad idea$ 7iss Britton$ he said. I a! sorry you are !i&ed u* in the !atter. 3ould it not ha+e been better for you to write to the "irl(s father and tell hi! all thisBarbara looked +e&ed. How silly of !e% she e&clai!ed. 2o you know$ I ne+er thou"ht of that1 and$ of course$ it would ha+e been 5uite si!*le. It 8was8 foolish% Ne+er !ind now$ he said consolin"ly$ seein" how downcast she looked. I a! sure it !ust ha+e been difficult to decide1 and now that the enter*rise is fairly e!barked on$ we !ust carry it throu"h as well as *ossible. I think the station here would be one of the first *laces they would send to when they found she had "one1 but we can cycle to the ne&t one and send the !achines back by train##she will be so !uch sooner out of .t. .er+an. Barbara a"reed "ratefully. .he was "lad that there would be no need for the dark cu*board$ and felt !uch ha**ier now that the i!!ediate carryin" out of the *lan was in so!e one else(s hands. .o she fi&ed an a**ro&i!ate hour for the Pretender to be ready ne&t day$ and then

said "ood#bye. I will *ost*one !y call on 7ade!oiselle /oirE till another ti!e$ he re!arked. I only ho*e that nothin" will *re+ent that terrible youn" lady of yours "ettin" off to#!orrow. I ho*e not$ si"hed Barbara. .he !ay not e+en !ana"e to "et to the baths at all. If so$ we(ll ha+e to think of so!ethin" else. 8Io!! Ta"$ ko!! Rat8$ he said cheerily$ as he turned away. Perha*s we !ay yet want the cu*board. Barbara ho*ed not$ althou"h )ean was "reatly disa**ointed when he heard of the alteration in the *lans$ and the only way the "irl could console hi! was by tellin" hi! that$ if e+er she wanted to hide$ she would re!e!ber the cu*board$ which$ she thou"ht was a +ery safe *ro!ise%

CHAPTER KIII. THE E.CAPE. The followin" day was da!* and dark$ and the weather showed no si"ns of i!*ro+in"$ which was de*ressin" for those who had "reat *lans afoot. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse thou"ht Barbara was showin" si"ns of !adness when she *ro*osed "oin" to the baths$ and was not a little annoyed when her disa**ro+al failed to turn the "irl fro! her *ur*ose. Barbara had "ra+e doubts about Alice bein" allowed to "o$ but she felt 8she8$ at least$ !ust at all costs be there. .he had ti!e to re!ind the bath#boy of his bar"ain$ and to *ro!ise hi! so!ethin" e&tra when ne&t she ca!e$ if he were true to his word$ and was 4ust ready to return ho!e$ when Alice arri+ed with the old !aid. .he succeeded in "i+in" her a little *iece of *a*er with so!e directions on it$ but was able to say nothin"1 and$ after a !ere nod$ left the bath#house. .he was +ery curious to see where the window by which the "irl was to esca*e o*ened$ and$ "oin" down the *assa"e that ran alon" the side of the buildin"$ found that it o*ened into a yard$ which see!ed the storehouse for old rubbish##a safe enou"h *lace to ali"ht in. 3hen she returned to the street she saw the Pretender co!in" alon"$ wheelin" two bicycles1 and her relief at seein" hi! was !in"led with co!*unction at "i+in" hi! such a lot of trouble.

It really was rather cool to dra" a co!*arati+e stran"er into such a !atter$ e+en if his "ood nature had *ro!*ted hi! to offer his assistance. But$ so!ehow$ the !ere fact of his talkin" En"lish had see!ed to do away with the need of for!al introduction$ and the knowled"e that his uncle had known 7iss Britton in by"one days would be a certificate of res*ectability sufficient to satisfy her !other$ she thou"ht. I 8a!8 so sorry it(s wet$ she said. It !akes it so !uch worse for you to be han"in" about. It 8is8 hardly the day one would choose for a bicycle ride$ he returned cheerfully1 but$ like the conductors in Cook(s Tours$ I feel I ha+e been chartered for the run$ and weather !ust !ake no difference. But you should "o strai"ht ho!e. It would be too cons*icuous to ha+e 8two8 *eo*le loiterin" about. I will let you know as soon as *ossible how thin"s "o$ and if you don(t hear till to#!orrow$ it will !ean we are safely on our 4ourney. Barbara saw the wisdo! of returnin" at once$ but did so with reluctance$ and$ findin" that she was 5uite unable to "i+e *ro*er attention to her work$ wrote a lon" letter ho!e$ relie+in" her !ind by recountin" the ad+enture in full. It was a "ood thin" that the first *lan##of hidin" Alice in the nei"hbourin" house##had not been carried out$ for$ about three 5uarters of an hour later$ 7ade!oiselle Eu"Enie ca!e hurryin" u* to see if the "irl was with the!$ and on hearin" she was not$ at once *ro*osed##with a sus*icious "lance at Barbara##that she should in5uire at the ne&t house. .he asked the "irl no 5uestions$ howe+er$ *erha*s "uessin" that if she did know anythin" she would not be +ery likely to tell. It was 7ade!oiselle ThErDse who$ in the wildest state of e&cite!ent$ 5uestioned e+ery one in the house$ Barbara included$ and the latter felt a little "uilty when she re*lied that the last ti!e she had seen the !issin" "irl was in the baths. Before +ery lon" the bell!an was "oin" round *roclai!in" her loss$ and describin" the e&act clothes she wore1 and Barbara was afraid$ when she heard hi!$ that there would soon be news of her1 for she had been wearin" the little black hat and coat that all the "irls at 7ade!oiselle Eu"Enie(s were dressed in. But the e+enin" ca!e$ and a**arently nothin" had been heard of the truant. 7ade!oiselle /oirE and 7arie did hardly any lessons$ such was the "eneral e&cite!ent in the house$ but discussed$ instead$ the +arious *ossibilities in connection with the esca*e.

Perha*s there was a little triu!*h in the hearts of the two elder wo!en$ for they had always felt rather 4ealous that 7ade!oiselle Eu"Enie had !ore boarders than they$ e+en althou"h they did not lay any clai! to bein" a school. They would ha+e "i+en a "reat deal to be able to read Barbara(s thou"hts$ but she looked so +ery una**roachable that they shru""ed their shoulders and resi"ned the!sel+es$ with what *atience they could$ to wait. Barbara(s an&iety was "reatly relie+ed the ne&t e+enin" by letters which she recei+ed fro! both the Pretender and Alice. The first wrote briefly$ and to the *oint. He said he had deli+ered the "irl safely to the *eo*le at Neuilly$ who! Alice had taken to$ and that there see!ed to be "ood stuff in her$ too$ for he had "i+en her so!e +ery strai"ht ad+ice about !akin" the best of thin"s$ which she had not resented. ,urther$ that Barbara need ha+e no !ore an&iety$ as he had cabled to her father to "et *er!ission for her to stay at Neuilly$ in case of any trouble arisin" when it was disco+ered where she was. Barbara folded u* the letter with a si"h of relief that the !atter had "one so well thus far$ and o*ened Alice(s co!!unication$ which was lar"ely !ade u* of e&cla!ation !arks and dashes. .he was +ery enthusiastic about Neuilly$ and was sure she would be 5uite ha**y there$ and that the heat would only !ake her feel at ho!e. .he had s!iled with deli"ht at inter+als all day$ she said$ when she thou"ht of the ra"e of 7ade!oiselle Eu"Enie$ and her futile efforts to trace her. .he su**osed a full descri*tion of her clothes had been "i+en$ but that would be no "ood$ as the A!erican had brou"ht her a tweed ca* and a cyclin" ca*e$ and they had thrown her hat away by the roadside. .he concluded by sayin" that 7r. 7orton had been +ery kind$ thou"h he did not see! to ha+e a +ery hi"h o*inion of her character$ and had "i+en her enou"h "randfatherly ad+ice to last her a lifeti!e$ and !ade her *ro!ise to write to 7ade!oiselle Eu"Enie. Barbara tore u* both letters$ and then went out to +isit 7ade!oiselle 9irE$ and relie+ed her !ind by tellin" her all about it. It see!s so dece*ti+e and horrid to kee* 5uiet when they are discussin" thin"s and wonderin" where she is$ she concluded. But she was to write to 7ade!oiselle Eu"Enie to#day$ and I really don(t feel inclined to tell her or the /oirEs the share I had in it. I hardly think you need$ !y child$ 7ade!oiselle 9irE said$ *attin" her on the shoulder. .o!eti!es silence is wisest$ and$ of 8course8$ you tell your own *eo*le. I do not know$ indeed$ if I had been youn"

like you$ that I should not ha+e done 4ust the sa!e1 and *erha*s$ e+en if I had been Alice$ I !i"ht ha+e done as she did. Barbara lau"hed$ and shook her head. .he could ne+er i!a"ine the ele"ant little 7ade!oiselle 9irE conni+in" at anybody(s esca*e$ es*ecially throu"h a bath#house window% But it cheered her to think that the little lady was not shocked at the esca*ade1 and she went back 5uite fortified$ and ready for su**er in the "arden with the widower and his fa!ily$ who! 7ade!oiselle ThErDse had been !a"nani!ous enou"h to in+ite.

CHAPTER KI9. A 3A0.I2E INN. It was wonderful how 5uickly the e&cite!ent about Alice 7eynell died down. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse went to call u*on her for!er instructress$ who told her$ with e+ident reluctance$ that the "irl had "one to Paris with a friend who had a**eared une&*ectedly$ and her father wished her to re!ain there for the *resent. 'f course$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse said$ in retailin" her +isit$ she will wish to kee* it 5uiet1 such thin"s are not a "ood ad+ertise!ent$ and they will s*eak of it no !ore. I think$ indeed$ that 7ade!oiselle Eu"Enie will call here no !ore. .he sus*ects that we hel*ed to !ake the child discontented. I a! thankful that 8we8 ha+e no such un*leasant !atters in 8our8 establish!ent. 3e ha+e always had an e&cellent re*utation% and the sisters con"ratulated each other for so!e ti!e on the successful way in which they had always arran"ed !atters for 8their8 boarders. It was while her sister was still in this *leasant !ood of self#satisfaction that 7ade!oiselle /oirE *ro*osed to "o to .t. .au+eur ;a little town about twel+e !iles away<$ and collect the rent fro! one or two houses they owned there. As 7ade!oiselle ThErDse talked En"lish best$ and had the care of the En"lish +isitors$ she had !ost of the *leasant e&cursions$ so that Barbara was 5uite "lad to think the elder sister was now to ha+e a turn. 7arie always went to .t. .au+eur with her aunt$ as she had a cousin li+in" in the town$ with who! they usually dined in the e+enin"1 and an in+itation was "raciously "i+en to Barbara to acco!*any the! both.

The "irl often thou"ht$ in !akin" these e&cursions here and there$ how nice it would ha+e been could she ha+e shared the! with her !other and the children1 and then she used to !ake u* her !ind !ore fir!ly than e+er that she would be"in teachin" ,rench directly she "ot ho!e$ so that so!e day she could hel* to "i+e the *leasure to ,rances that her aunt was "i+in" to her. 2onald had written on one occasion$ that in +iew of so !any e&cursions he wondered when the work ca!e in1 to which she had re*lied that it was 8all8 work$ as she had to talk ,rench hard the whole ti!e% And$ indeed$ a day ne+er *assed without her "ettin" in her lesson and so!e "ra!!atical work$ thou"h it so!eti!es had to co!e before breakfast or after su**er. 'n this occasion they were to start +ery early$ as 7ade!oiselle /oirE e&*lained that they would sto* for a little while at a wayside inn$ where an old nurse of theirs had settled down. It was therefore arran"ed to dri+e so far$ and take the train the rest of the way$ and Barbara$ who had heard a "reat deal about the carria"e$ *ictured to herself a little *ony and tra*$ and was lookin" forward to the dri+e i!!ensely. 3hat was her astonish!ent$ therefore$ when she saw drawn u* before the door ne&t day$ a little s*rin" cart with a brown donkey in it. The carria"e% she "as*ed$ and hastily cli!bed into the cart lest 7ade!oiselle /oirE should see her face. They all three sat close to"ether on the one backless seat$ and dro+e off "aily$ 7ade!oiselle /oirE handlin" the ribbons$ and all the little boys in the street shoutin" encoura"e!ent in the rear. The donkey went alon" at an e&cellent$ thou"h so!ewhat erratic$ *ace$ for e+ery now and then he s*ran" forward with a lurch that was so!ewhat disconcertin" to the occu*ants of the cart. The first ti!e$ indeed$ that he did so$ Barbara was 5uite un*re*ared$ and$ after clutchin" wildly at the side of the cart and !issin" it$ she subsided into the straw at the back$ fro! which she was e&tricated by her co!*anions$ a!id !uch lau"hter. 3ould you *refer to sit between us- 7ade!oiselle /oirE asked her$ when she was once !ore reinstated in her *osition. 0ou would *erha*s feel fir!er'h$ no$ thank you$ said Barbara hastily. I will hold on to the side now$ and be *re*ared.

He does ha+e rather a 5ueer !otion$ 7ade!oiselle /oirE1 re!arked co!*lacently1 but he(s swift$ and that is a "reat !atter$ and you soon "et used to his lea*s. I should think$ she went on$ lookin" at the donkey(s lon" "ray ears critically$ he would !ake a "ood 4u!*er. I should think he !i"ht$ re*lied Barbara$ subduin" her !erri!ent. I don(t think our En"lish donkeys 4u!* !uch$ as a rule1 but the Brittany ones see! !uch !ore acco!*lished. Undoubtedly$ her co!*anion continued cal!ly. 7y sister says when 8she8 was in En"land she tried to dri+e a donkey$ and it backed the carria"e into the ditch. They !ust be an inferior breed. To which re!ark Barbara was *owerless to re*ly for the ti!e bein". The dri+e was a +ery *retty one$ and the donkey certainly deser+ed his dri+er(s *raises$ for he brou"ht the! to the inn in "ood ti!e. It was a 5uaint little *lace$ standin" close to the roadside$ but$ in s*ite of that fact$ lookin" as if it were not "reatly fre5uented. As they dro+e u*$ they saw an old wo!an sittin" outside under a tree$ readin" a news*a*er1 but$ on hearin" the sound of wheels$ she 4u!*ed u* and ran to the "ate. As soon as 7ade!oiselle /oirE had descended she flun" herself u*on her1 and Barbara wondered how the latter$ who was s*are and thin$ su**orted the substantial for! of her nurse. .he had ti!e to look about her$ for her three co!*anions were !akin" a "reat hubbub$ and$ as they all s*oke to"ether$ at the to* of their +oices$ it took so!e !inutes to understand what each was sayin". Then Barbara was re!e!bered and introduced$ and for a !o!ent she thou"ht the nurse was "oin" to e!brace her too$ and wondered if it would be worse than a rush at hockey1 but$ fortunately$ she was s*ared the shock$ and instead$ was led with the others into a !usty *arlour. I a! so *leased to see you$ the landlady said$ bea!in" u*on the! all$ for few *eo*le *ass this way now the tra!s and the railway "o the other route1 and since !y dear second husband died it has see!ed 5uieter than e+er. Here she shook her head dolefully$ and dabbed her bri"ht$ black eyes$ where Barbara could see no trace of tears. .undays are the lon"est days$ the wo!an went on$ tryin" to !ake her ho*elessly *lu!* and cheery face look *athetic$ because I a! so far away fro! church. But I read !y little news*a*er$ and say !y little *rayer##and !ention all your na!es in it ;which Barbara knew was i!*ossible$ as she had ne+er heard hers before that !ornin"<## and think of !y little *riest.

7ade!oiselle /oirE nodded to show she was listenin"$ and 7arie hastily stifled a yawn. I call hi! !ine$ the landlady e&*lained$ turnin" !ore *articularly to Barbara$ because he !arried !e the last ti!e$ and !y second husband the first ti!e. Barbara thou"ht of the "uessin" story about A blind be""ar had a son$ and decided she would try to find out later e&actly 8who!8 the *riest had !arried$ for the e&*lanation was still "oin" on. 'f course$ therefore$ he took an interest in his death$ and the widow(s +oice "rew *athetic. .o he always kee*s an eye on !e$ and sends !e little holy news*a*ers$ o+er which I always shed a tear. 7y second husband always lo+ed his news*a*er so##and his coffee. The word coffee had a !a"ical effect$ and her face beco!in" wreathed in s!iles a"ain$ she s*ran" to her feet in a wonderfully a"ile way$ considerin" her si:e$ and ran to a cu*board in the corner$ callin" loudly for a !aid as she went. 0ou !ust ha+e thirst% she e&clai!ed$ terrible thirst and hun"er1 but I will "i+e you a si* of a fa+ourite be+era"e of !ine that will restore you instantly. And she *laced u*on the table a black bottle$ which *ro+ed to be full of cold coffee sweetened to such a de"ree that it rese!bled syru*. Poor Barbara% .he was not +ery fond of hot coffee 8un8sweetened$ so that this cold concoction see!ed to her !ost sickly. But she !ana"ed to drink the whole "lassful$ e&ce*t a !outhful of e&tre!e syru* at the end$ thou"h feelin" afterwards that she could not bear e+en to look at coffee cara!els for a +ery lon" ti!e. They sat so!e ti!e o+er the refresh!ents *ro+ided for the!$ and their donkey was stabled at the inn to await their return in the e+enin". Then biddin" a te!*orary adieu to their hostess$ they went on to the town by train. 7ade!oiselle /oirE went at once to "et her rent$ which$ she e&*lained$ always took her so!e ti!e$ for the *eo*le were not "ood at *ayin"$ and left the "irls to look at the church$ which was a +ery old one. After they were 4oined by !ade!oiselle they strolled alon" to 7arie(s relations. The husband was a seller of cider$ which$ 7arie e&*lained to Barbara$ was 5uite a different occu*ation fro! kee*in" an inn$ and !uch !ore res*ectable. Both he and his wife were +ery hos*itable and kind$ and es*ecially attenti+e to the En"lish !iss.

It was 5uite a uni5ue e&*erience for her$ for they dined behind a trellis#work at one end of the sho*$ and$ durin" the whole of dinner$ either the father or dau"hter was ke*t 4u!*in" u* to ser+e the custo!ers with cider. The son was *resent too$ but no one would allow hi! to rise to ser+e anybody$ for he was at colle"e in Paris$ and had taken one of the first *ri:es in ,rance for literature. It was 5uite touchin" to see how *roud his *arents and sister were of hi!$ and he see!ed to Barbara to be wonderfully uns*oiled$ considerin" the attention he recei+ed. It see!ed her fate to ha+e stran"e food offered her that day$ and when the first dish that a**eared *ro+ed to be stewed eels$ Barbara be"an to dread what the rest of the !enu !i"ht re+eal. ,ortunately$ there was nothin" worse than beans boiled in crea!$ thou"h it was with so!e relief that she saw the lon" !eal draw to a close. Coffee and sweet!eats were ser+ed in a roo! u*stairs$ in which all the youn" !an(s *ri:es were ke*t$ and which were dis*layed with !ost lo+in" *ride and re+erence by the !other and sister$ while the owner of the! looked on rather bashfully fro! a corner. The youn" !an was one of the ty*e of ,rench!en who wear their hair cut and brushed the wron" way$ like a clothes#brush. Barbara was be"innin" to di+ide all ,rench!en into two classes accordin" to their 8frisure8F those that wore their hair brush#fashion$ and those that had it lon" and oiled##so!eti!es curled. These latter so!eti!es allowed it to fall in locks u*on their foreheads$ tossin" it back e+ery now and then with an abstracted air and easy "race that fascinated Barbara. They were usually en"a"ed in the ,ine Arts$ and she could ne+er 5uite decide whether the hair had been the result of the *rofession$ or +ice +ersa. After talkin" for so!e ti!e$ Barbara had her first lesson in EcartE$ which she welco!ed "ladly$ as hel*in" to kee* her awake. Then the whole fa!ily escorted their +isitors to the station$ where they stood in a row and wa+ed hats and hands for a lon" ti!e after the train had left. It was "ettin" rather late when they reached the little inn once !ore$ and Barbara was thankful that she had the e&cuse of a substantial dinner to fall back u*on when she was offered !ore of the landlady(s *leasant be+era"e. 3hen the "ood#byes had been said it was "rowin" dark$ and the "irl$ thinkin" of their last ad+enturous dri+e$ wondered if 7ade!oiselle /oirE was any !ore reliable. Howe+er$ after the first !ile$ she cast di"nity aside$ and be""ed to be allowed to sit down in the hay at the back of the cart and "o to slee*$ either the eel or her efforts to !ake herself a"reeable ha+in" created an o+er*owerin" desire for slu!ber$

and she was still drea!in" *eacefully when they dro+e into .t. .er+an$ and rattled u* the narrow street to their own door.

CHAPTER K9. THE .TRIIE. It was now the be"innin" of Au"ust$ and 4ust "rillin"$ as 2onald would ha+e e&*ressed it. It see!ed al!ost as difficult to Barbara to lea+e the sea as it is to "et out of bed on a winter !ornin". It !ust be so +ery nice to be a !er!aid##in su!!er$ she said$ lookin" back at the water$ as she and 7arie went u* the beach one !ornin". 0es$ returned 7arie$ If they had short hair. It !ust take such a lot of co!bin". 7arie was not so enthusiastic about bathin" as her co!*anion. Perha*s her want of enthusias! was due to the fact that she was not allowed to bathe e+ery day$ because it took u* so !uch ti!e that !i"ht be de+oted to her studies. At first 7ade!oiselle ThErDse had tried to *ersuade Barbara that it would be !uch better for her to "o only once or twice a week too. There are so !any En"lish at the 8*la"e8$ she co!*lained$ that I know you will talk with the!1 and it is a *ity to co!e to ,rance to learn the lan"ua"e and waste your ti!e talkin" with En"lish$ who! you can !eet in your own country. But I won(t talk with the!$ Barbara had assured her. 0ou know how careful I ha+e been always to s*eak ,rench##e+en when I could hardly !ake !yself understood. The "irl(s eyes twinkled$ for 7ade!oiselle ThErDse had a !ania for s*eakin" En"lish whene+er *ossible$ and at first always used that lan"ua"e when with her *u*il$ until Barbara had asked her if she had "ot so accusto!ed to s*eakin" En"lish that it was !ore fa!iliar to her than ,rench% .ince then$ she only used En"lish in *ublic *laces$ or when she thou"ht En"lish *eo*le were near.

It is such a "ood ad+ertise!ent$ she e&*lained co!*lacently. 0ou ne+er know what introductions it !ay !ake for you. Barbara had used the sa!e ar"u!ent in fa+our of bathin" e+ery day$ and had *re+ailed$ thou"h she had really been +ery *articular about s*eakin" ,rench##not$ I fear$ fro! the desire of *leasin" 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ but because of the thou"ht of the ho!e *eo*le$ and what she !eant to do for the!. I can(t understand how you can bear ridin" in this weather$ 7arie re!arked$ as they toiled slowly ho!e in the sun. It would kill !e to 4o" u* and down on a horse in a sun as hot as this. Not when you(re accusto!ed to it$ Barbara assured her. 0ou would want to do it e+eryday then. I(! "oin" to ride to .t. /unaire this afternoon. Then Aunt ThErDse won(t "o for the walk after su**er. 3hat a ha**iness% 7arie cried$ for 7ade!oiselle /oirE was not so strict as her sister. The latter had "rown 5uite reconciled to her 4ourneys to 2inard now$ and$ as a !atter of fact$ was lookin" forward with re"ret to the ti!e they !ust cease. .he found the afternoons in the Casino Bardens with her friend +ery *leasant$ and ca!e back each ti!e full of ideas for alterin" e+erybody(s clothes. This she was not *er!itted to do$ howe+er$ for 7ade!oiselle /oirE had an un*leasant re!e!brance of si!ilar *lans on a *re+ious occasion$ which had resulted in !any "ar!ents bein" un*icked$ and then left in a dis!e!bered condition until 7arie and she had laboriously sewed the! u* a"ain% This *articular afternoon 7ade!oiselle ThErDse was in a +ery co!*lacent !ood$ ha+in" 4ust retri!!ed her hat for the second ti!e since its i!!ersion$ and feelin" that it was wonderfully successful. If I had not been ac5uainted with the En"lish lan"ua"e$ and had so !any *ressin" offers to teach it$ she said$ as they were walkin" u* to the ridin"#school$ I should ha+e !ade a wonderful success as a 8!odiste8. Indeed$ I so!eti!es wonder if it !i"ht not ha+e been less tryin" work. That would de*end on the custo!ers$ wouldn(t it- Barbara returned1 but did not hear her re*ly$ for she had cau"ht si"ht of 7onsieur Pirenne at the 8!anD"e8 door$ and knew that he did not like to be ke*t waitin". 7ade!oiselle ThErDse always waited to see the! !ounted$

feelin" that thereby she ensured a certain a!ount of safety on the ride1 !oreo+er$ there was a cere!ony about the !atter that a**ealed to her. 7onsieur Pirenne always liked to !ount Barbara in the street$ and$ before "ettin" on to his own horse$ he lin"ered a while to see that there were a few *eo*le *resent to witness the de*arture$ for$ like 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ he had a "reat feelin" for effect. After seein" Barbara safely u*$ he "lanced carelessly round$ flicked a little dust fro! his ele"antly#cut coat$ twirled his !ustachios$ and lea*ed ni!bly into the saddle$ without the hel* of the stirru*. A flutter of a**ro+al went round the bystanders$ and 7ade!oiselle ThErDse called out a *artin" word of warnin" to Barbara##4ust to show she was connected with the cou*le##before they !o+ed off. Their *ro"ress down the street was as *ictures5ue as 7onsieur Pirenne could !ake it1 for whate+er horse he !i"ht be on$ he succeeded in !akin" it caracole and cur+et$ sayin" at inter+als$ with a careless s!ile## Not 8too8 near$ !ade!oiselle. 7anon is not to be trusted. I belie+e he would do the sa!e on a rockin"#horse$ Barbara had once written ho!e1 but she ad!ired and liked hi! in s*ite of these little affectations##ad!ired hi! for his skill in horse!anshi*$ and liked hi! for his *atience as a !aster. This ride was one of the nicest she had yet had$ as the road$ bein" bordered for a "reat *art of the way by the links$ !ade ca*ital "oin". It was when they had turned their faces ho!eward$ and were 4ust enterin" the town$ that so!ethin" +ery e&citin" ha**ened. They had fallen into a walk$ and Barbara was watchin" the *eo*le idly$ when she reco"nised a!on" the *assers#by the face of the solicitor of Neuilly% .he felt sure it was he$ althou"h he was 4ust turnin" down a side street1 and after the shock of sur*rise she followed her first i!*ulse$ and$ *uttin" her horse at a "allo*$ dashed after hi!. 7onsieur Pirenne$ who was in the !iddle of sayin" so!ethin"$ recei+ed a "reat fri"ht$ and wondered whether she or her horse had "one !ad. He followed her at once$ callin" after her an&iously$ Pull u*$ !ade!oiselle$ *ull u*% 0ou will be killed% The solicitor did not see her$ but 4ust before she reached hi! he ste**ed on to a *assin" tra! and was whirled away$ and before Barbara had decided whether to *ursue an electric tra! or not$ 7onsieur Pirenne had reached her side and sei:ed her reins. He looked really

fri"htened$ and annoyed too$ but when Barbara told hi! that the horse had only been runnin" in accordance with the will of her !istress$ he co!*osed hi!self a little$ !erely re!arkin" that it was hardly 8co!!e il faut8 to "allo* in the streets like that. But$ 7onsieur Pirenne$ Barbara said ea"erly$ I know you would ha+e done the sa!e if you had known the story1 and therewith she be"an to tell it to hi!. He was i!!ensely interested$ for there is nothin" a ,rench!an en4oys !ore than an ad+enture$ and at the end of the tale he was al!ost as e&cited as she was. Could we trace hi! now- he 5uestioned ea"erly. But##I fear the chance is s!all##the descri*tion is so +a"ue$ and you did not e+en see the na!e on the tra!$ and we ha+e no *roofs. 0et$ !ade!oiselle$ if you will "o to the 8*rEfecture8 with !e$ I will do !y best. But Barbara shook her head decidedly. The thou"ht of *olice courts$ es*ecially ,rench ones$ alar!ed her$ and the warnin"s she had recei+ed to kee* out of any !ore co!*lications were still +ery fresh in her !ind. I think I should rather not "o to the 8*rEfecture8$ !onsieur$ she said 5uickly. I do not think it would be any "ood either. I a"ree with you *erfectly. And 7onsieur Pirenne bowed "allantly. Therefore$ shall we *roceed on our way- 2oes !ade!oiselle re"ret that she did not catch hi!- he asked$ after a while. I a! sorry he is not cau"ht##but I a! not sorry 8I8 did not catch hi!$ thou"h that see!s rather contradictory$ doesn(t itBy which !ade!oiselle !eans that she does not know what she would ha+e done with one hand on the !iscreant(s collar$ the other on the reins$ and a crowd around her- the ,rench!an in5uired *olitely. That(s 4ust it$ lau"hed Barbara. 0ou ha+e e&actly described it##thou"h I should be "lad if 8so!e one8 cau"ht hi! and !ade hi! "i+e back the !oney. I will kee* !y eyes o*en on your behalf$ and shall let you know if anythin" ha**ens$ he said sy!*athetically1 and Barbara$ re!e!berin" his kindness$ did not like to re!ind hi! that$ ne+er ha+in" seen the !an$ he could not *ossibly be of !uch ser+ice to her. 3hen 7ade!oiselle ThErDse heard that she had seen the solicitor a"ain$

she was al!ost as e&cited as Barbara had been$ and at once *ro*osed that they should s*end the rest of the e+enin" in 2inard$ lookin" for hi!1 and it was not until the "irl *ointed out that he !i"ht now be on his way to En"land$ or a lon" way off in another direction$ that she beca!e reconciled to returnin" ho!e. E&cite!ent see!ed in the air that e+enin"$ and when they arri+ed at the .t. .er+an 5uay there were !ore idlers than usual. They wondered what was the cause$ and when 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ with her custo!ary desire to "et at the botto! of e+erythin"$ asked the reason$ she was told that the strike a!on" the ti!ber#yard !en$ which had been threatened for so!e ti!e$ had be"un that afternoon$ and that work was sus*ended. It was all the !ore astonishin" because it had co!e so suddenly$ and Barbara could hardly tear !ade!oiselle away fro! the s*ot until she su""ested that those at ho!e !i"ht not ha+e heard of it yet$ and that she !i"ht be the first to tell it to the!. Hurryin" throu"h the town$ they heard "reat shoutin" fro! the other side of the 5uay$ which !ade !ade!oiselle nearly break into a run with ea"erness. As it ha**ened$ howe+er$ the news had already s*read to their street$ and they found 7ade!oiselle /oirE e5ually an&ious to tell the new#co!ers what 8she8 knew of the !atter. As it was the first strike for !any years$ the towns*eo*le looked u*on it with a stran"e !in"lin" of *ride and fear. It was stirred u* by an a"itator called 7ars$ and had broken out si!ultaneously in other *orts too. 7ore 8"endar!es8 were sent for in case of need$ thou"h 7ade!oiselle /oirE said it was ho*ed !atters !i"ht be arran"ed a!icably by a !eetin" between !asters and !en. They were still discussin" the sub4ect$ when a loud shoutin" was heard$ and they all ran to a disused bedroo! in the front of the house and looked out. A crowd of !en$ !archin" in fours$ were co!in" u* the street$ led by one beatin" a dru!$ and another carryin" a dirty banner with /ibertE$ E5ualitE$ ,raternitE u*on it. Barbara(s eyes s*arkled with e&cite!ent$ and she felt al!ost as if she were back in the ti!es of the Re+olution$ for they looked rather a fierce and +icious crew. They are so!e of the strikers$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse cried. 3e !ust withdraw our heads fro! the windows in case the !en "et annoyed with us for starin". But she *ro!*tly leaned still farther out$ and be"an !akin" loud re!arks to her sister$ on the dis"racefulness of such beha+iour.

0ou will be heard$ 7ade!oiselle /oirE returned$ shakin" her head at her sister. 0ou are a silly wo!an to say such thin"s so loudly when the strikers are !archin" beneath. But the re!onstrance had no effect$ and the si"ht of all the other windows in the street full of s*ectators encoura"ed and ins*ired 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ and !ade her lon" for fa!e and "lory. It is ridiculous of the !ayor to allow such thin"s$ she said loudly$ with an e+ident desire to be heard. The !en should be shar*ly dealt with$ and sent back to their work. The result of her words was une&*ected1 for se+eral of the crowd$ annoyed at the little serious attention they had hitherto recei+ed$ and worked u* to considerable e&cite!ent$ by the shoutin" and dru!!in" be"an to *ick u* stones and flin" the! at the house. At first they were !erely thrown 8a"ainst8 the house$ then$ the s*irit of !ischief increasin"$ they were sent with better ai!$ and one crashed throu"h the window abo+e 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s head. 3e shall all be killed% shrieked her sister$ and 4ust because of your !eddlin" ways$ ThErDse. But she called to deaf ears$ for now 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ en4oyin" notoriety$ ke*t *o**in" her head in and out of the window$ dod"in" the stones and shoutin" out threats and !enaces$ which were returned by the crowd$ till at last 7ade!oiselle /oirE cried out *itifully that so!e one !ust "o and fetch the widower. 'ne !an e+en !i"ht be a *rotection$ she !oaned$ thou"h how$ and whether a"ainst her sister or the strikers$ did not see! +ery clear to Barbara. But as that see!ed to be 7ade!oiselle /oirE(s one idea$ and as 7arie and the !aid#ser+ants were all cryin" in a corner$ she thou"ht she had better fetch hi!. Runnin" downstairs and across the "arden$ she cli!bed o+er the wall by the wood *ile$ and boldly knocked at the widower(s back door$ thereby fri"htenin" hi! not a little. He ca!e +ery cautiously alon" the *assa"e$ and in5uired in rather shaky tones who was there. As soon as Barbara had assured hi! that this was not an attack in the rear$ he flun" o*en the door$ and welco!ed her !ost cordially. Barbara wondered where he had been not to ha+e heard 7ade!oiselle /oirE(s wailin"s$ and sus*ected that *erha*s he 8had8 heard the! and had retired hastily in conse5uence% He certainly looked a little de*ressed when he recei+ed the !essa"e$ which was to the effect that he should co!e and address the crowd fro! the /oirEs( window$ and bid it to

*roceed on its way. I think$ he said *ensi+ely$ after so!e !o!ents( consideration$ that if I a! to "o at all$ I had better "o out by !y own front door and s*eak to the crowd fro! the street. They will be !ore likely to listen to !e there$ than if they thou"ht I was one of 7ade!oiselle /oirE(s household. That is 8+ery8 bra+e of you$ !onsieur$ Barbara said$ and the little !an swelled with *ride. Perha*s it was the thou"ht of the "lorious *art he was about to *lay before the whole street that u*held hi!$ as he certainly was rather ti!id by nature. If 8you8 are "oin" out to face that !ob$ said )ean$ drawin" hi!self u*$ I will acco!*any you. Noble boy% cried the little !an$ e!bracin" hi!. 3e will li+e or die to"ether. Co!e% And off they went$ while Barbara hurried across the "arden and o+er the wall a"ain$ not wishin" to !iss the s*ectacle in the street. But her dress cau"ht in the wood$ and$ as it took her so!e ti!e to disentan"le it$ the widower had finished his s*eech by the ti!e she arri+ed at the window. But he see!ed to ha+e !ade an i!*ression$ for the crowd was be"innin" slowly to !o+e on$ ur"ed by what *ersuasions or threats she could not disco+er$ as the /oirEs had not heard !uch either. But as lon" as the strikers went$ the ladies did not !uch !ind how they had been *ersuaded$ and when the last !an had stra""led out of si"ht$ and the sound of the dru! was dyin" away$ both the sisters$ followed by 7arie$ rushed downstairs and flun" o*en the front door. Enter% 7ade!oiselle /oirE cried. Enter$ our *reser+er##our rescuer% and$ as soon as he crossed the threshold$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse sei:ed one hand and her sister the other$ till Barbara wondered how the *oor little !an(s ar!s re!ained on. 7arie$ !eanwhile$ did her *art by the son$ and$ as they all s*oke at once$ there was al!ost as !uch noise in the house as *re+iously there had been outside. 'ur noble *reser+er$ what do we not owe to you% shouted 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ tryin" to drown her sister$ who was s*eakin" at his other ear. ,acin" the !ob like a lion at bay##one !an a"ainst a thousand% Barbara knew there had not been a hundred$ but su**osed a *oetical i!a"ination !ust be allowed free *lay.

He stood there as cal!ly as in church$ 7arie inter*olated$ thou"h she knew that the widower ne+er went there$ with a cool s!ile *layin" about his li*s##it was a beautiful si"ht1 and Barbara re"retted e&ceedin"ly that her dress had detained her so lon" that she had !issed it. Co!*li!ents continued to fly for so!e ti!e$ like butterflies in )une1 then$ fro! sheer e&haustion$ the sisters released hi!$ and wi*ed their eyes fro! e&cess of e!otion. Barbara was 4ust assurin" herself that the widower(s ar!s 8did8 see! to be all ri"ht$ when he turned round$ and$ sei:in" both her hands$ be"an to shake the! as +iolently as his had been shaken a few !inutes before. Barbara was !uch bewildered$ not knowin" what she had done to deser+e this tribute$ and wonderin" if the widower were doin" it out of a s*irit of re+en"e$ and a desire to !ake so!ebody else(s hands as tired as his own. But one "lance at his "lowin"$ kindly face dis*ellin" that idea$ Barbara concentrated all her attention on the best way to free herself$ and a+oid "oin" throu"h a si!ilar ordeal with all the others$ which$ she be"an to fear$ !i"ht be her fate. .he esca*ed it$ howe+er$ for 7ade!oiselle /oirE had hastened away to brin" u* so!e wine fro! the cellar$ in honour of the occasion$ and they were all in+ited into the 8salon8 to drink to each other(s healths before *artin". The widower was called u*on to "i+e a s*eech$ to which 7ade!oiselle ThErDse re*lied at so!e len"th$ without bein" called u*on1 and it was "ettin" 5uite late before the two noble *reser+ers retired to their own ho!e. 3hen they had "one$ 7ade!oiselle /oirE su""ested that all dan"er !i"ht not yet be *ast$ and$ as the !en !i"ht return a"ain later$ she thou"ht it would be wiser to !ake *re*arations. .o the two fri"htened !aid#ser+ants bein" called in to assist$ the shutters were closed before all the windows$ and hea+y furniture dra""ed in front of the!. 3hen this was done$ and all the doors bolted and barred$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse *ro*osed to take turns in sittin" u* and kee*in" watch. Barbara *ro!*tly +etoed the !otion$ declarin" she was "oin" to bed at once$ and$ as no one else see!ed inclined to take the *art of sentinel$ they all retired. I ho*e we !ay be s*ared to see the !ornin" li"ht$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse said sole!nly. I feel there is "reat risk in our "oin" to bed in this !anner. Then why don(t you sit u*$ sister- 7ade!oiselle /oirE said crossly$

for the last hour or two had really been +ery tirin". But to this her sister did not dei"n to re*ly$ and$ takin" u* her candle$ went u* to bed. 3hen Barbara "ained the safe *recincts of her own roo! she lau"hed lon" and heartily$ and lon"ed that 2onald or ,rances could ha+e been there to see the !eetin" between rescuer and rescued. In s*ite of their fears of e+il they all s*ent a *eaceful ni"ht$ the only result of their careful barricadin" bein" that it !ade the ser+ants cross$ as they had to restore thin"s to their *laces. The town was a**arently 5uiet enou"h too##thou"h 7ade!oiselle ThErDse would not allow any one to "o out in case of riot ##and when the additional 8"endar!es8 ca!e in the e+enin" there was little for the! to do. It was su**osed that the !en and e!*loyers had co!e to so!e understandin"$ and that the strikers would soon return to their work. But$ you see$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse said to Barbara$ how easily a re+olution arises in our country. 3ith a little !ore *ro+ocation there would ha+e been barricades and the "uillotine 4ust as before. But while the widower and his son li+e so near us$ Barbara re*lied$ we need surely ha+e no fear. And$ thou"h 7ade!oiselle ThErDse looked at her shar*ly$ the "irl(s face was so sedate that the lady su**osed she was treatin" the !atter with seriousness.

CHAPTER K9I. BARBARA P/A0. 2ETECTI9E. The !ornin" lesson was o+er$ and 7ade!oiselle ThErDse had betaken herself to Barbara(s couch$ which the "irl knew always !eant that she was "oin" to !ake her an indefinite +isit$ and tell her so!e lon" story. This ti!e$ it was about her +isit to En"land and what she had done when teachin" there1 and$ as Barbara had heard it all before !ore than once$ it was a little difficult to show a *ro*er interest in it. 0es$ !ade!oiselle went on$ it was a ti!e full of new e&*eriences for !e$ by which I ho*e I *rofited. I "ot on e&tre!ely well with your countrywo!en$ too$ and the "irls all lo+ed !e$ and$ indeed$ so did your country!en$ for I recei+ed a "reat !any offers of !arria"e while there. I "rew weary of refusin" the!$ and was 8so8 afraid of hurtin" their

feelin"s##but one cannot !arry e+ery one$ can oneCertainly not$ !ade!oiselle$ Barbara returned "ra+ely. It would be !ost unwise. That is 4ust what I felt. Now$ the Ber!an frNulein#### Barbara si"hed$ wonderin" if it were the tenth or ele+enth ti!e she had heard the tale of the Ber!an frNulein 1 but before she had decided the *oint$ there was a knock at the door$ and the !aid#ser+ant brou"ht u* the !essa"e that !ade!oiselle was wanted below by a +isitor. .he rose at once$ shook out her skirt$ and *atted her hair. That is 4ust the way$ she said. I a! ne+er allowed !uch ti!e for rest. 0ou would not belie+e how !any *eo*le seek !e to obtain !y ad+ice. I will return in a few !inutes and finish !y story. 3hen she had "one$ Barbara looked lon"in"ly at the couch. It was 8such8 a hot day$ and the lesson had been a lon" one1 but she was afraid it was not !uch "ood to settle down with the *ro!ise of the story han"in" o+er her head. The result *ro+ed she was ri"ht$ for +ery soon 7ade!oiselle ThErDse ca!e hurryin" back a"ain$ full of s!iles and i!*ortance. The landlady of the inn$ 8Au )ac5ues Cartier8$ wished her to "o there$ she said$ to act as inter*reter between herself and an En"lish!an$ who could s*eak hardly any ,rench. 3ould Barbara like to co!e tooThinkin" it !i"ht be entertainin"$ Barbara "ot ready hastily and ran down to 4oin 7ade!oiselle ThErDse and the landlady$ who had co!e in *erson to better !ake clear !atters. This En"lish!an and his son$ she e&*lained$ as they went alon"$ ha+e only been with us a day or two$ but already we wish the! to "o$ yet cannot !ake the! understand. 'f course$ I do not wish to hurt his feelin"s$ but now$ in Au"ust$ I could let the roo! twice o+er to *eo*le who would be !uch less trouble$ and who! the other "uests would like better. But what is wron" with these- asked 7ade!oiselle ThErDse critically. I !ust know all the affair or I cannot act in it. .he drew herself u* +ery strai"ht$ and Barbara wondered if she were thinkin" of Portia in the 87erchant of 9enice8. 3ell$ this "entle!an asked for a (bath e+ery !ornin"$( the landlady

re*lied in an in4ured tone$ and after we *rocured for hi! a nice little washin"#tub$ with !uch trouble$ he said it was too s!all. That is not sufficient reason to send hi! away1 and 7ade!oiselle ThErDse shook her head. No. But then he cannot understand what "oes on at 8table d(hOte8$ and he and his son are such silent co!*anions that it casts a "loo! o+er the rest. 'f course$ with an a*olo"etic "lance at Barbara$ so!e En"lish!en are +ery nice to ha+e1 but this one ##she shook her head as if the !atter were 5uite beyond her## this one I do not like$ and *erha*s without hurtin" his feelin"s$ you$ !ade!oiselle$ could !ake 5uite clear to hi! that he !ust "o. By this ti!e they had arri+ed at the hotel$ which was close to the Rosalba Bathin" Place$ and o+erlooked that little bay. Barbara$ thinkin" the inter+iew would be a delicate one$ and that she would but add to the un*leasantness of the situation$ said she would wait in the orchard till she was called. ,ro! it one could "et a beautiful +iew across the Ri+er Rance$ to the wooded slo*es beside 2inard$ and$ findin" a seat beneath a li!e#tree$ Barbara sat down. .he had been there about a 5uarter of an hour$ and was al!ost aslee*$ when she heard stealthy footste*s co!in" throu"h the "rass beside her$ and the ne&t !o!ent her startled eyes fell u*on the solicitor(s son of Neuilly re!e!brance% .he "ot rather a fri"ht at first$ but he certainly "ot a !uch worse one1 and before he had reco+ered it had flashed across her !ind 5uite clearly that the !an who was at that !o!ent talkin" to 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ was the solicitor hi!self. Before she could !o+e fro! her *lace$ the son had cast hi!self down on his knees$ and was be""in" her incoherently to s*are hi! and his father##not to infor! a"ainst the!. The thou"ht of "oin" to *rison$ he said$ would kill hi!$ as it had his !other$ as it nearly had his sister1 and if she would s*are the!$ he would take his father away at once. To see the boy cryin" there like a child al!ost !ade Barbara "i+e way and let thin"s "o as they liked1 but then she re!e!bered how !eanly his father had cheated the *eo*le in Neuilly##a widow(s fa!ily too##and what a life he see!ed to ha+e led his own wife and children1 then$ callin" to !ind his horrid !anner and cruel$ sensuous face$ she steeled herself a"ainst hi!. I shall certainly infor! a"ainst your father$ she said "ra+ely. And I

think the best thin" that you and your sister can do$ is to "et away at once$ before it is too late. The boy wrun" his hands. 7y sister has "one already$ he !oaned$ to so!e .cotch relations##si!*le *eo*le##who said they would take her in if she would ha+e nothin" !ore to do with our father. But I could not "o##there was !oney only for one. Barbara looked at the *athetic fi"ure before her$ and suddenly for"ot all her *ro!ises not to "et entan"led in any !ore *lots or other dan"erous enter*rises$ and al!ost before she realised what she was doin"$ she was scribblin" a !essa"e in ,rench on the back of an en+elo*e. ,ro! where they stood they could see the little house of 7ade!oiselle 9irE$ and the entrance to the lane in which it stood. Pointin" out the roof of the house to her co!*anion$ she told hi! to run there with the note$ and$ if the *eo*le let hi! in$ to wait until she ca!e. .he felt it was a +ery bold$ and *erha*s an i!*ertinent thin" to do$ but she was al!ost sure that 7ade!oiselle 9irE would do as she asked. As soon as she saw hi! so far on his way$ she ran to the inn$ and went throu"h to the kitchen$ where a !aid was cookin". Brin" your !aster to !e$ as 5uickly as *ossible$ the "irl said *ere!*torily. 0ou need not be afraid she added$ seein" that the wo!an##not unnaturally##looked u*on her with sus*icion. I will touch nothin"$ and the 5uicker you co!e back the better I shall be *leased. The !aid eyed her doubtfully for a few !inutes$ then shru""ed her shoulders and ran out of the roo!. Her !aster would$ at least$ be able to "et rid of this obno&ious stran"er$ she thou"ht. He ca!e 5uickly enou"h$ with an an&ious e&*ression on his rosy face$ and Barbara had to tell the story twice or thrice before he see!ed to understand. It was rather un*leasant work tellin" a forei"ner about the e+il deeds of a fellow#country!an$ but it see!ed the ri"ht thin" to do$ thou"h the thou"ht of it haunted the "irl for so!e ti!e. 3hen once the landlord understood !atters$ he acted +ery *ro!*tly$ sendin" so!e one for the *olice$ and then with a tele"ra! to Neuilly. He said he had had his doubts all alon"$ because the "entle!an had see!ed 5ueer$ and the *eo*le slee*in" ne&t hi! had co!*lained that they were sure he beat his son$ for they used to hear the boy cryin". The landlord then went down into the hall to wait until 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s inter+iew was o+er$ and Barbara$ lea+in" a !essa"e to the

effect that she had "rown tired and had "one on$ ran back to their house. Ha+in" succeeded in enterin" unobser+ed$ she "ot her *urse and hurried off to 7ade!oiselle 9irE. The old !aid looked at her with a !in"lin" of relief and curiosity$ but was !uch too *olite to ask any 5uestions. The youn" !an is here$ she said$ and led the way into the little dinin"#roo!$ where her !istress was sittin" o**osite the boy with a +ery *u::led face$ but doin" her best to !ake hi! take so!e wine and biscuit. 7ade!oiselle 9irE had always a**eared to Barbara as the !ost courteous wo!an she had e+er !et$ and$ in *resence of the fri"htened$ awkward youth$ her "racious air i!*ressed the "irl !ore than e+er. Inowin" that he could not understand ,rench she told his story at once$ and her listener ne+er showed by a "lance in his direction that he was the sub4ect of con+ersation. They both ca!e to the conclusion that the best thin" he could do would be to "o to .t. 7alo$ and take the first boat to En"land. It left in the e+enin" about se+en$ so that by ne&t !ornin" he would be safe at .outha!*ton. Then Barbara said$ in the way she had been wont to ad+ise 2onald$ I think you should "o strai"ht to your sister$ and take counsel with her as to what you should do. I will lend you !oney enou"h for what you need. 0ou 8are8 kind$ the boy said$ with tears in his eyes. I(ll *ay you back as soon as I "et any !oney##as soon as e+er I can$ I do *ro!ise you##if only I "et safely to En"land. He had such a *itiful$ fri"htened way of lookin" o+er his shoulder$ as if he e&*ected to see his father behind hi! all the ti!e$ that Barbara(s wrath a"ainst the !an arose anew$ and she felt she could not be sorry$ whate+er his *unish!ent !i"ht be. Bood#bye$ she said kindly. I !ust "o away now. I think$ when you arri+e in En"land$ you !i"ht write to 7ade!oiselle 9irE$ and say you arri+ed safely. I shall be an&ious till I hear. The boy al!ost e!barrassed Barbara by the assurances of his "ratitude$ and she breathed !ore freely when she "ot into the o*en air. How "lad I ou"ht to be that 2onald isn(t like that$ she thou"ht$ the re!e!brance of her frank$ sturdy brother risin" in +i+id contrast in her !ind. 3hen she "ot back$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse was en4oyin" herself thorou"hly$

recountin" the ad+enture to her own household and to the widower and his sons who! she had called in to add to her audience. .he described the whole scene !ost "ra*hically and with !uch "esticulation$ *erha*s also with a little e&a""eration. The an"er of the !an when he found he !ust acco!*any the officers was herculean$ she said$ castin" u* her eyes1 he stor!ed$ he ra"ed$ he tore his hair ;Barbara re!e!bered hi! as al!ost 5uite bald%<$ he insisted that his son !ust co!e too. How !ean% the "irl cried indi"nantly. But the son$ !ade!oiselle *aused$ and looked round her audience## the son$ she concluded in a thrillin" whis*er$ had "one##fled##disa**eared. 'ne !o!ent he was there$ the ne&t he was nowhere. 3hereu*on the *a*a was still !ore an"ry$ and with hasty words "a+e an e&act and *articular descri*tion of hi! in e+ery detail. (He !ust be cau"ht$( he shouted$ (he !ust kee* !e co!*any.( .uch a father% 7ade!oiselle rolled her eyes wildly. .uch an inhu!an !onster re*elled !e$ and##I fled. Barbara$ feelin" as if they should a**laud$ looked round +a"uely to see if the others were thinkin" of be"innin"1 but at that !o!ent she was o+er*owered by 7ade!oiselle ThErDse suddenly flin"in" herself u*on her and kissin" her on both cheeks. This% she said sole!nly$ holdin" Barbara with one hand and "esticulatin" with the other## this is the one we !ust thank for the ca*ture. .he directed the landlord##her brains *lanned the arrest##8she8 will a**ear a"ainst hi! in court. 'h$ no% Barbara cried in distress$ I really can(t do that. They ha+e tele"ra*hed for 7ada!e Bel+oir(s son fro! Neuilly##he will do. I really could not a**ear in court. But you can s*eak ,rench 5uite well enou"h now##you need not !ind about that1 and it will be 5uite an e+ent to a**ear in court. It is not 8e+ery8 "irl of your a"e who can do that. 7ade!oiselle s*oke al!ost en+iously1 but the idea was abhorrent to Barbara$ who deter!ined$ if *ossible$ to a+oid such an ordeal. The ne&t afternoon they had a +isit fro! one of 7ada!e Bel+oir(s sons$ who had co!e across to see what was to be done about the solicitor. Barbara was +ery "lad to see hi!$ for it brou"ht back re!e!brances of the first ha**y fortni"ht in Paris.

It was rather co!fortin" to know$ too$ that the result of one of the *lots she had been concerned in had been satisfactory$ for the news about Alice was "ood. .he was "ettin" on well with ,rench$ and all the Bel+oirs liked her +ery !uch. The A!erican "entle!an had been to see her twice$ and her father had not only "i+en her *er!ission to stay$ but had written to 7ade!oiselle Eu"enie to that effect$ and was co!in" o+er hi!self to see her.

CHAPTER K9II. A 7E7'R0 AN2 A 7AN'IR. No a!ount of wishin" on Barbara(s *art could do away with the necessity for her a**earin" in court$ and the ordeal had to be "one throu"h. If I were a no+elist$ now$ she said ruefully to 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ I !i"ht be able to !ake so!e use of it$ but as I a! 4ust a *lain$ ordinary *erson#### Her chief consolation was that the boy had written sayin" he had 4oined his sister and that he had ne+er been so ha**y in his life. He was "oin" to be a far!er$ he said$ and Barbara wondered why$ of all occu*ations$ he had fi&ed u*on one that a**eared to be so unsuitable1 but$ as a *roof of his "ood intentions$ *oor boy$ he had sent her ten shillin"s of the !oney she had lent hi!$ and *ro!ised to forward the rest as soon as he could. It was so!e co!fort also$ as 7ade!oiselle 9irE *ointed out$ that the !an would be safely out of the way of doin" further har! for the *resent. Barbara 5uite a"reed with her$ but thou"ht she would ha+e felt the co!fort !ore if so!e one else had *layed her *art. But when the whole un*leasant business was o+er$ and Barbara had +owed that nothin" would e+er *re+ail u*on her to "o into court a"ain##e+en if it were to recei+e sentence herself##she sou"ht out 7ade!oiselle 9irE$ with a *ro*osal to do so!ethin" to take away the bad feelin". 7ake !usic$ the little lady said. That is$ I think$ the only thin" I can offer you$ !y child. 7usic is +ery "ood for (bad feelin"s.( 0es$ oh$ yes$ it is1 but this is so!ethin" I ha+e been wantin" for a lon" ti!e$ and now I feel it is the ri"ht ti!e for it. 82ear8

7ade!oiselle 9irE$ will you co!e for a dri+e with !eA delicate flush coloured the old lady(s cheeks$ and Barbara watched her an&iously. .he knew she was +ery *oor$ and could not afford to do such thin"s for herself$ and she was too frail to walk beyond the "arden$ but she also "reatly feared that she !i"ht ha+e !ade the offer in a way to hurt her friend(s feelin"s. The little lady did not answer for so!e ti!e$ then she looked into the ea"er face before her and s!iled. 8If8 I said I would "o$ where could you "et a carria"e to take us'h$ I ha+e found out all about that$ the "irl re*lied 4oyfully. I shall not ask you to "o in a donkey#cart$ nor yet in a 8fiacre8. I ha+e found out 5uite a nice low chaise and a 5uiet *ony that can be hired$ and I will dri+e you !yself. It took only a little consideration after that$ and then !ade!oiselle "a+e her consent to "o ne&t day if it were fine. If )eannette would care to co!e$ Barbara said$ before lea+in"1 and the old wo!an$ who had been sittin" +ery 5uietly in her corner while the arran"e!ents were bein" !ade$ looked at her !istress with a bea!in" face$ and read her *leasure in the *lan before she s*oke. I a! so "lad you thou"ht of her$ 7ade!oiselle 9irE whis*ered as she said "ood#bye to her +isitor$ for thou"h$ of course$ I should ne+er ha+e asked you to include her$ yet she has been so *atient and faithful in "oin" throu"h sorrows and labour with !e$ that it is but fair she should share !y *leasures$ and I should ha+e felt "rie+ed to lea+e her at ho!e on such a day. Barbara had one !ore in+itation to "i+e$ which went rather a"ainst the "rain$ and that was to 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ who! she felt she could not lea+e out1 but she was unfei"nedly "lad when the lady refused on the score of too !uch En"lish corres*ondence. The followin" day bein" "loriously fine$ they started for the dri+e in "reat content!ent$ "oin" by 7ade!oiselle 9irE(s choice towards /a Bui!orais$ a little +illa"e so!e se+en kilo!etres away on the coast. The *ony was tractable and well beha+ed$ and they rolled alon" slowly under the shady trees and *ast the old far!s and cotta"es$ 7ade!oiselle 9irE(s face alone$ Barbara thou"ht$ bein" worth watchin"$ while )eannette sat o**osite$ her hands folded in her la*.

)ust before reachin" /a Bui!orais the road branched off towards a lonely 8!anoir8$ e!*ty now$ and used by so!e far!er for a storehouse. 0et there was still a di"nity about it that neither uncared#for "arden nor ruined beauty could destroy. 7ay we "o close$ 5uite close to it- 7ade!oiselle 9irE asked$ and Barbara turnin" the *ony(s head into the lane$ *ulled u* beside the hi"h "ray walls. The !aster once$ the ser+ant now$ but still noble$ the old lady whis*ered$ as her eyes$ wanderin" lo+in"ly o+er it all$ lin"ered at last u*on a bush of roses near the "ate. The flowers were al!ost wild$ throu"h ne"lect and lack of *runin"$ and not half so fine as !any in the little lady(s own "arden1 but Barbara$ noticin" the lon"in" look$ sli**ed out and "athered a handful. The far!er would s*are you those$ I think$ !ada!e$ if it *leases you to ha+e the!. He would surely s*are the! to !e$ !ada!e re*eated$ and buried her face in their fra"rance. Then she laid the! in her la*. 2ri+e on$ !y dear$ I ha+e seen all I wish$ she said. .he was silent till they *assed into the !ain road a"ain. Then she said$ with a backward look at the 8!anoir8## I once stayed there for a +ery ha**y su!!er with !y father$ and a well#belo+ed friend. They are both in Paradise now$ and I ho*e$ by Bod(s "ood "race and the intercessions of our /ady$ I a! nearer the! each year. Her face was *erfectly serene$ but *oor old )eannette(s was all *uckered u*$ and the tears rolled hea+ily down her cheeks. As for Barbara$ she did not s*eak for a ti!e. The +illa"e was a 5uaint little *lace$ 4ust a few houses dro**ed to"ether beside the sea$ which san" to the! for e+er. /et us not "o in out of the clean$ stron" air$ 7ade!oiselle 9irE said$ as they sto**ed in front of the inn. 7ay we drink tea at the doorThey sli**ed the reins throu"h a rin" in the fla"s in front of the house$ and si**ed their tea$ while the children of the *lace ca!e and

stared sole!nly at the stran"ers. They dro+e ho!e in the e+enin" sunli"ht between the orchards$ where the a**les hun" hea+y on the trees$ 7ade!oiselle 9irE talkin" in her ha**y way as usual$ entertainin" Barbara with tales of what she had seen and heard. But when they drew u* at her door$ and the "irl hel*ed her out$ she looked an&iously into her friend(s face. Had it been too tirin" for her0ou are thinkin" I !ay be tired% the old lady said$ s!ilin" at her. Then I will tell you$ !y dear. I a! 4ust tired enou"h to "o to bed and ha+e drea!s$ ha**y drea!s. 3hen one is so old$ one is so near the end of !e!ory$ so near the be"innin" of realities$ that the for!er ceases to be sad. I thank you for the *leasure you ha+e "i+en )eannette and !yself$ it will last us lon"1 and now$ "ood#ni"ht. .he kissed her$ and Barbara turned back to the *ony chaise. ,or her sake$ she said softly to herself$ one would like the realities to be"in soon.

CHAPTER K9III. AUNT ANNE ABAIN. Barbara had not been so fre5uently at the bath#house of late$ the sea *ro+in" !ore attracti+e$ and she was therefore sur*rised one day on "oin" there to find a new bath#boy. .he !issed her old *lain#faced friend and wondered what had beco!e of hi!. Is he ill- she asked at the office on her way out. The wo!an *ursed u* her li*s1 No$ he is not ill$ she said. But we found that he was not of the character that we thou"ht. But he had been with you so!e years$ Barbara e&*ostulated$ for the boy had confided that fact to her. He had$ but he had de"enerated$ we found. A dreadful doubt sei:ed Barbara that his dis!issal !i"ht be due to the hel* he had "i+en her in Alice(s esca*e$ and in that case she would be *artly res*onsible for hi!.

3ill you kindly "i+e !e his address- she said$ turnin" back a"ain to the office. The wo!an looked doubtful$ and said she was not sure if she had it. I think if he has been with you se+eral years$ you !ust surely know where he li+es$ Barbara *ersisted1 and seein" her deter!ined look$ the wo!an a**arently thou"ht it would be the 5uickest way to "et rid of her$ and did as she was asked. Barbara re*eated the na!e of the street and the nu!ber once or twice as she went out$ and wondered how she should be"in to find her way there$ thou"h consolin" herself by thinkin" it was not the first ti!e she had hunted u* unknown addresses successfully since she had co!e to ,rance. It was +ery hot$ and for a !o!ent she hesitated$ wonderin" whether she would not *ut off her search till another ti!e1 then she decided it was her duty to look the boy u* at once. Askin" a kindly *ost!an if he could direct her to the address$ she found that the house was in one of the streets near the 5uays. Thou"h rather a lon" way off$ it was not difficult to find$ and once found it was not easily for"otten$ for the s!ells were !in"led and !any. Barbara wandered down between the hi"h old houses$ lookin" at the nu!bers##when she could see the!##and finally found the one she sou"ht. .he had not to wait lon" after knockin"$ and the door was o*ened by the bath#boy hi!self$ who stared at her in astonish!ent. 7a(!(selle- he said doubtfully$ as if uncertain whether she were a !essen"er of ill o!en or not. I ha+e co!e to call$ Barbara e&*lained. 7ay I *lease co!e inHis face broadened into the fa!iliar "rin$ and he shuffled down the *assa"e before her$ wearin" the sa!e heelless list sli**ers that had first attracted Barbara(s attention to hi! in the bath#house. The roo! he took her into s!elt fresh and clean$ and indeed was half full of clean clothes of all descri*tions. 7y !other is 8blanchisseuse8$ the boy said$ liftin" a hea* of *inafores fro! a chair. I a! desolated that she is out. 0es. Buillau!e$ will you *lease tell !e why you were sent away fro! the bath#houseBuillau!e looked unco!fortable$ and !o+ed his foot in and out of his

sli**er. 3hy$ !a(!(selle##I was dis!issed. They said it was !y character$ but that is 5uite "ood. I do not drink$ nor lie$ nor steal1 !y !other was always a "ood brin"er u*. Then was it because of hel*in" the En"lish lady to esca*e- 3as it that$ Buillau!e- The boy swun" his sli**er de&terously to and fro on his bare toes. It was doubtless that$ !a(!(selle$ for it was after the +isit of the lady she belon"ed to that I was dis!issed. 7y !other warned !e at the ti!e. (It is unwise$( she said$ (for such as you to *lay thus.( But the little En"lish lady looked so sad. I 8a!8 sorry$ Buillau!e. I do wish it had not ha**ened. .o do we$ !a(!(selle$ said the boy si!*ly$ for !y !other$ who is 8blanchisseuse8$ has lost so!e custo!ers since then$ too$ and I cannot "et anythin" here. To#!orrow I "o to .t. 7alo or Para!E to try##but they are !uch farther away. 0et we !ust ha+e !oney to kee* the little HElDne. .he is so beautiful and so tender. 3ho is HElDne- in5uired Barbara1 and at the 5uestion the boy(s face "lowed with *ride and *leasure. I will brin" her to you$ !a(!(selle1 she is now in the "arden. .he is with !e while I a! at ho!e. He shuffled off$ and returned in a few !inutes with a little "irl in his ar!sF so *retty a child that Barbara !ar+elled at the contrast between the!. .he is not like !e$ hein- he asked$ lau"hin". HElDne$ "reet the lady$ and Barbara held out both hands to the little "irl$ who$ after a lon" stare$ ran across to her. In a!usin" her and bein" herself a!used$ Barbara for"ot the reason of her +isit$ and only re!e!bered it when the little "irl asked her brother suddenly if he would fetch her a roll that e+enin". The boy looked unco!fortable. Not to#ni"ht$ he hastened to say$ but the !a!a$ she will brin" you so!ethin" to#ni"ht for su**er. I used to brin" her a white roll on !y way ho!e fro! the baths$ he e&*lained to Barbara.

7ay I "i+e her one to#ni"ht- the "irl asked 5uickly$ *uttin" her hand into her *ocket. I would like to. But the boy shook his head. No$ no$ the !a!a would not like it##the first ti!e you were in the house. .o!e other ti!e$ if !a(!(selle does us the honour to co!e a"ain. 'f course I will. I want to see how you "et on at .t. 7alo or Para!E$ she said$ and whether HElDne(s doll "ets better fro! the !easles. 'r whether she "rows win"s$ *ut in HElDne in wa+in" her hand in farewell. Barbara was +ery thou"htful on her way back$ and before reachin" the house$ she had deter!ined to "i+e u* her ridin" for the *resent. 'ne !ore e&cursion she would ha+e$ in which to say "ood#bye to 7onsieur Pirenne$ who had been +ery kind to her1 but it see!ed rather selfish to use u* any !ore of the liberal fund which her aunt had su**lied her with for that *ur*ose. After all$ it was hard that the bath#boy$ throu"h her fault$ could not e+en su**ly his little sister with rolls for her su**er. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse was so!ewhat sur*rised at the sudden decision$ and *erha*s a little annoyed by it$ for she had "rown accusto!ed to the tri*s to 2inard$ and would !iss the! "reatly. 7onsieur Pirenne was also disturbed$ because he feared 7ade!oiselle had "rown tired of his 8!anD"e8. Barbara assured hi! to the contrary$ and tried to satisfy the! both with e&*lanations which were as satisfactory as such can be when they are not the real ones. As to connectin" the "irl(s +isits to the e&#bath#boy##which 7ade!oiselle ThErDse thou"ht were due !erely to a *assin" whi!##and the cessation of rides$ she ne+er drea!ed of such a thin". The result of the boy(s in5uiries at .t. 7alo and Para!E were fruitless at first$ and Barbara had *aid se+eral +isits$ and was be"innin" to feel al!ost as an&ious as the !other and son the!sel+es before the boy succeeded in his search. But one afternoon when she arri+ed she found hi! bea!in" with ha**iness$ ha+in" found at least a te!*orary 4ob at Para!E$ and one which *robably would beco!e *er!anent. That news$ she said$ shakin" the boy(s hand war!ly in con"ratulation$ will send !e ho!e 5uite li"ht#hearted. But so!ehow$ thou"h she was honestly "lad$ it did not !ake her feel as

ha**y as it should ha+e done$ and she thou"ht the road back had ne+er see!ed so lon"$ nor the sun so hot. .he would "ladly ha+e !issed her e+enin" lesson and su**er$ but she feared that of the two e+ils 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s 5uestions would *robably be the worse. Indeed$ when in the best of health$ that lady(s con+ersation was a*t to be weariso!e$ but when one felt##as Barbara had for the *ast few days##that bed was the only satisfactory *lace$ and 8that8 e+en harder than it used to be$ then !ade!oiselle(s chatter beca!e a *enance not easily borne. 0ou are "ettin" tired of us$ and be"innin" to want ho!e$ the ,renchwo!an said in rather offended tones two days later$ when Barbara declined to "o with her to 2ol. I a! sorry we ha+e not been able to a!use you sufficiently well. 'h$ that isn(t it at all$ Barbara assured her. It is 4ust that I ha+e ne+er known such hot weather before$ and it !akes !e disinclined for thin"s. 0ou are lookin" whitish$ but that is because you ha+e been stayin" in the house too !uch lately. 2ol would do you "ood and cheer you u*. Another ti!e$ the "irl *leaded. I think I won(t "o to#day$ and the lady left her with a shru"$ and the re!ark that she would not "o either. .he was e+idently annoyed$ and Barbara wondered what she should do to atone for it1 but later in the day she had a +isit that dro+e the thou"hts of 2ol fro! both her !ind and !ade!oiselle(s. .he was sittin" in her roo! tryin" to read$ and wonderin" why she could not understand the *ara"ra*h$ thou"h she had read it three or four ti!es$ when 7ade!oiselle ThErDse ca!e runnin" in e&citedly to say there were two A!erican "entle!en downstairs in the 8salon8 to see her##one old$ one youn". 7r. 7orton$ was the na!e on the card. 3hy$ it !ust be the A!erican *retender% cried Barbara1 who$ seein" her co!*anion(s look of sur*rise$ added hastily$ the elder one used to know !y Aunt Anne$ and they ha+e both been in Paris1 it was the youn"er one who hel*ed Alice 7eynell there. Then$ indeed$ I !ust descend and in5uire after her$ said !ade!oiselle 4oyfully. I will 4ust run and !ake !y toilet a"ain. In the !eanwhile$ do you "o down and entertain the! till I co!e. But Barbara was already out of the roo!$ for she thou"ht she would like to ha+e a few !inutes con+ersation before 7ade!oiselle ThErDse ca!e in$

as there !i"ht not be !uch o**ortunity afterwards. How nice of you to call on !e$ she said$ as she entered the 8salon8. I was 4ust lon"in" for one of the En"lish#s*eakin" race. The elder 7r. 7orton was tall and thin$ with so!ethin" in his carria"e that su""ested a !ilitary u*brin"in"1 his hair and eyes "ray$ the latter +ery like his ne*hew(s "rown sad. The *lace does not suit you- the elder !an in5uired$ lookin" at her face. 'h$ yes$ I think so1 it is 4ust +ery hot at *resent. /ike the day you tried to ride to 2ol$ the ne*hew re!arked$ wonderin" if it were only the ride that had "i+en her so !uch !ore colour the first ti!e he had seen her$ and the sea bree:e that had reddened her cheeks the last ti!e. But there were so !any thin"s the "irl was an&ious to hear about$ that she did not allow the con+ersation to la*se to herself or the weather a"ain before 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ arrayed in her best$ !ade her a**earance. .he at once sei:ed u*on the youn"er !an$ and be"an to *our out 5uestions about Alice. 0ou need not fear any bad results$ 7r. 7orton said to Barbara. 7y ne*hew is +ery discreet1 and Barbara$ hearin" scra*s of the con+ersation$ thou"ht he was not only discreet but lawyer#like in his re*lies. The +isit was not a +ery lon" one$ 7r. 7orton declinin" an in+itation to su**er that e+enin"$ with *ro!ises to co!e so!e other ti!e. But before they went$ he sei:ed a !o!ent when Barbara(s attention was en"a"ed by his ne*hew to say so!ethin" that his hostess rather resented. The youn" lady does not look so well as I had i!a"ined she would. I su**ose her health is 5uite "ood at *resent.he has co!*lained of nothin"$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse returned$ bridlin". 3hy should she be ill- The food is e&cellent and abundant$ and we do e+erythin" i!a"inable for the co!fort of our in!ates. I a! sure you do$ !ada!e$ he re*lied$ bowin". I shall ha+e the *leasure of callin" u*on you a"ain$ I ho*e$ before lon". As I knew 7iss Britton it is natural for !e to take an interest in her niece when

in a forei"n land. 0our aunt$ I su**ose$ is now in En"land- he added casually to Barbara. 0es##stayin" with us for a day or two1 but I ho*e she will co!e here before I "o$ and we could !ake an e&cursion on our way ho!e. That would be *leasant for both$ I a! sure$ 7r. 7orton re*lied$ takin" a cere!onious lea+e of 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ and a si!*le$ thou"h war!er one of Barbara. The youn" !an said little in *artin"$ but as soon as they were in the street he laid his hand hurriedly on his uncle(s ar!. The "irl is ill$ uncle$ I a! sure of it1 she is not like the sa!e *erson I !et before1 and that 7ade!oiselle ThErDse would dri+e !e cra:y if I weren(t feelin" u* to the !ark. No doubt1 what a ton"ue the wo!an has% But what do you want to do$ 2enys$ for$ of course$ you ha+e !ade u* your !ind to do so!ethin"2enys frowned. 'f course I don(t want to see! interferin"$ but I won(t say anythin" at ho!e in case of fri"htenin" her !other. But#### he *aused and looked u* at his uncle## do you think it would see! i!*ertinent to write to the aunt- .he !i"ht co!e a little sooner$ *erha*s$ and$ bein" at 7rs. Britton(s$ could use her 4ud"!ent about tellin" her or not. 7r. 7orton *ondered$ his !ind not wholly on the "irl who! they had 4ust left1 then re!e!berin" his ne*hew he brou"ht his thou"hts down to the *resent. I should risk the i!*ertinence if I were you$ 2enys. But what about the addressI know the +illa"e and the county$ 2enys said ea"erly. I should think that would find her. I will do it when I "et back. But it *ro+ed !ore difficult to write than he i!a"ined$ and it was so!e ti!e before##ha+in" succeeded to his satisfaction##he brou"ht the letter to his uncle for criticis!. It ran thusF## 2EAR 7A2A7$##I a! afraid you !ay think it rather i!*ertinent on !y *art to write to you$ but I ho*e you will for"i+e that$ and !y a**arent interference. I a! 2enys 7orton$ who! your niece !et so!e ti!e a"o on the way to 2ol$ and$ as !y uncle and I were *assin" this way in returnin" fro! a little tour$ we called on 7iss Britton$ and both thou"ht her lookin" ill. The doctor here is$ I belie+e$ 5uite "ood$

but 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ thou"h doubtless a worthy lady$ would$ to !e$ be rather tryin" in ti!e of illness. I should not write to you$ but I fear 7iss Britton will not$ bein" unwillin" to worry you or any of those at ho!e. 7y uncle !ade a su""estion on the !atter to 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ which was not +ery !uch liked by that lady$ therefore he thou"ht I !i"ht write you. He asks !e##if you still re!e!ber hi! as a (*ast ac5uaintance(##to "i+e you his re"ards. Ho*in" you will for"i+e !y officiousness. 0ours truly$ 2EN0. 7'RT'N. That is 5uite *assable$ 7r. 7orton said when he had read it. I think you will hardly "i+e offence. I wonder if she re!e!bers !e.he could hardly hel* doin" that$ and 2enys nodded affectionately at his uncle. But I shall be !uch ha**ier when this letter arri+es at its destination. The address is not +ery e&act. Howe+er$ we will see$ and we can call a"ain to#!orrow##it would be kind$ don(t you think$ to one of our (kith$( so to s*eak$ and in a forei"n landThe uncle s!iled. It would be kind$ as you say$ 2enys$ so we will do it. But when they called the followin" afternoon they were told that 7iss Britton was in bed and 7ade!oiselle ThErDse en"a"ed. As a !atter of fact$ she was in the !idst of co!*osin" a letter to 7rs. Britton$ for when Barbara had said as carelessly as she could$ that she would stay in bed 4ust for one day$ 7ade!oiselle ThErDse$ re!e!berin" her +isitor(s re!arks the *re+ious afternoon$ had taken alar! and sent for the doctor$ and now thou"ht it would be wiser to write to 7rs. Britton. Ha+in" wasted a "ood !any sheets of *a*er$ and !ur!ured the letter o+er se+eral ti!es to herself$ she sou"ht her sister out. /isten$ she said *roudly$ I think I ha+e succeeded ad!irably in tellin" 7rs. Britton the truth and yet not alar!in" her$ at the sa!e ti!e showin" her that by !y knowled"e of her lan"ua"e I a! not unfitted to teach others. H'N'URE2 7A2A7$##I a! *er!ittin" !yself to write to you about your dear dau"hter$ who has entwined herself !uch into our hearts. There are now so!e few days she has see!ed a little indis*osed$ and at last

we succeeded in *ersuadin" her to retire to bed$ and called in the worthy and !ost res*ectable$ not to say "ifted$ fa!ily doctor who "i+es us his attention in ti!es of illness. He e&*ressed his o*inion that it was a s*ecies of low fe+er$ what the dear youn" lady had contracted$ out of the kindness of her "ood heart$ in +isitin" in ti!e of sickness the s!all sister of the bath#boy ;a *rofession which you do not ha+e in En"land<#### That shows !y knowled"e of their custo!s$ you see$ the reader could not refrain fro! inter*olatin"1 then she continued with a flourish## and the dau"hter of a worthy 8blanchisseuse8$ who is in e+ery res*ect +ery clean and orderly$ therefore we thou"ht to be trusted with the *resence of your dau"hter$ but who!$ in the future$ we will ur"e the ad+isability of lea+in" un+isited. 7ade!oiselle *aused a !o!ent for breath$ for the sentence was a lon" one$ and she had rolled it out with en4oy!ent. 'f course$ she said to her sister$ I ha+e not yet +isited the house of this 8blanchisseuse8$ but I in5uired if it was clean$ and$ would not ha+e allowed the "irl to "o if the re*ort had not been fa+ourable1 but to continue## 0our dau"hter$ in the e&cellence of her heart$ would not$ *erha*s$ desire to rouse your an&ieties by !entionin" her indis*osition$ but we felt it incu!bent u*on us$ in whose char"e she lies$ to infor! her relati+es$ and$ abo+e all$ her de+oted !other. 3ith affectuous re"ards$ 0ours res*ectably$ THLRP.E /'IRL. There% e&clai!ed the writer in conclusion. 2o you not think that is a fine letterHer sister shru""ed her shoulders. Probably it is$ but you for"et I cannot understand En"lish. But *ray do not trouble to translate it$ she added hastily1 I 5uite belie+e it is all that you say.

0es$ you !ay belie+e that$ and 7ade!oiselle ThErDse closed the en+elo*e. I think it will !ake an i!*ression. In that belief she was *erfectly ri"ht$ and *erha*s it was a fortunate thin" that Aunt Anne was there to hel* to re!o+e the i!*ression1 for$ that lady ha+in" already had 2enys 7orton(s letter$ was *re*ared for this one$ and was "lad she had been able to tell the news in her own way to her sister#in#law the day before. 2on(t look so scared$ /ucy$ she said. I don(t su**ose there is anythin" !uch a!iss$ thou"h I shall 4ust *ack u* and "o at once. 3hat an irritatin" wo!an this !ust be##5uite enou"h to !ake any one ill if she talks as she writes. 3ith characteristic *ro!*titude 7iss Britton be"an to !ake her *re*arations i!!ediately$ and only halted o+er the! once$ and that was when she hesitated about *ackin" a dress that had 4ust co!e ho!e$ which she said was ridiculously youn" for her. It will "et +ery crushed$ she !uttered discontentedly. But then#### 'h$ well$ I !i"ht as well *ut it in$ and in it went. 7rs. Britton ho+ered an&iously about her$ and watched her *roceedin"s wistfully. 0ou don(t think I should "o too$ do you$ Anne- she asked. Not at *resent$ certainly$ 7iss Britton returned *ro!*tly$ re"ardin" her with her head on one side. I *ro!ise I will let you know e&actly how thin"s are$ and whether you would be better there. I would say (2on(t worry( if I thou"ht it were the least "ood$ but$ of course$ you will. Then she stoo*ed and fastened a stra* of her trunk. It was a !ost sensible thin" of the youn" 7orton to write strai"ht away$ and$ *robably$ if they are there$ they will be 5uite sure to see Barbara has all she wants##the uncle always was a kind#hearted !an. Then she strai"htened her back and declared e+erythin" was ready. .he crossed by ni"ht fro! .outha!*ton to .t. 7alo$ and was "reatly afraid that she would arri+e lookin" a wreck$ and$ to *re+ent that she *artook lar"ely of a !edicine she had seen ad+ertised as a certain cure for sea#sickness. Her sur*rise e5ualled her deli"ht when she awoke in the !ornin"$ ha+in" sle*t *eacefully all ni"ht$ and she refused to belie+e that her "ood ni"ht was *robably owin" to the

cal!ness of the sea and not to the !edicine. .he looked with a little dis!ay at the shoutin"$ *ushin" crowd of *orters and hotel touts waitin" on the 5uay$ wonderin" how she would !ana"e to kee* hold of her ba" a!on" the! all$ and$ as she crossed the "an"way$ clutched it !ore ti"htly than before. No$ she said$ as so!e one took hold of it as soon as her foot touched the 5uay. 0ou shall not take !y ba"##I would not trust it to any one of you. 0ou should be asha!ed of yoursel+es$ screa!in" like wild Indians. It was 4ust then that 2enys 7orton and his uncle ca!e throu"h the crowd. That is she##there$ the elder !an said$ reco"nisin" her after fourteen years. Bo and hel*1 I will wait here. It was at a crucial !o!ent$ when 7iss Britton was really "ettin" e&as*erated and rather des*erate$ that the youn" !an ca!e u*$ and she acce*ted his assistance and e&*lanation with relief. 7y uncle is down here$ he said. 3e ha+e a 8fiacre8 waitin". There is always such a crush and rout on the 5uay$ we thou"ht we had better co!e to *ilot you throu"h. The youn" !an$ in s*ite of his easy bearin"$ had been a little an&ious as to how the two would !eet a"ain$ and dreaded lest there !i"ht be so!e e!barrass!ent. But beyond an air of shyness that sat stran"ely on both$ and a kind of a!used wonder at !eetin" after so !any years$ there was nothin" to show that they had been !ore than !ere ac5uaintances$ and the talk centred chiefly on Barbara. .he does not know you are co!in" yet$ 2enys said. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse "ot your tele"ra!$ but said it would be better not to tell your niece in case the shi* went down on the way% 3hat a cheerful *erson to li+e with% 7iss Britton e4aculated. I(! afraid I !ay be +ery rude to her. I ho*e not$ 7r. 7orton said. It would do no "ood$ and she see!s to be an e&cellent lady in !any ways. 3e shall see% 7iss Britton re*lied "ri!ly$ "ettin" out of the 8fiacre81 and 2enys felt rather sorry for 7ade!oiselle ThErDse. But 7iss Britton was often worse in i!a"ination than in reality$ and

she beha+ed with all due *oliteness to both the sisters$ who !et her at the door$ and led her into the 8salon8. .he e+en bore a certain a!ount of 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s e&*lanations with *atience$ then she "ot u*. 3ell$ well$ I would rather hear all that afterwards$ !ade!oiselle$ and if I !ay 4ust take off !y hat and coat I will "o strai"ht u* to !y niece. I had breakfast on board. A few !inutes later Aunt Anne o*ened Barbara(s door and entered$ a little doubtful lest her sudden a**earance !i"ht not be bad for her niece$ but thinkin" it could not be !uch worse than a *re*aration by that foolish wo!an. Barbara was lyin" with her back to the door$ but so!ethin" different in the ste* !ade her turn round$ and she s*ran" u* in bed. Aunt Anne% Aunt Anne% and dro**in" her face into the *illow be"an to cry. Aunt Anne stood a !o!ent in doubt. It was such a rare thin" to see any of the fa!ily cry that she was startled##but not for lon"1 then she crossed the roo! and be"an to co!fort her niece. It was dreadfully foolish of !e$ the "irl said after a while$ but it was 8so8 nice to see you a"ain. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse is +ery kind$ but##she creaks about$ you know$ and##and fusses$ and it is a little tryin" to ha+e forei"ners about when you are##out of sorts. Tryin"% .he would dri+e !e distracted. Indeed$ if I had only her to nurse !e I should die 4ust to "et rid of her% 'h$ she(s not 5uite so bad as 8that8$ Barbara returned. .he has been +ery kind indeed$ aunt$ and is a +ery "ood teacher1 and you "et used to her$ you know. Perha*s. But now I(ll 4ust tell you how they are at ho!e. Then you !ust be 5uiet$ and$ as I crossed in the ni"ht$ I shall be "lad of a rest too. I can stay in here 5uietly beside you. 7iss Britton ha+in" had a little e&*erience in sickness$ saw that$ thou"h *robably there was no need for an&iety$ Barbara was certainly 8ill8. .he felt !ore reassured after she had seen the doctor$ who she allowed see!ed sensible enou"h for a ,rench!an$ and wrote her sister#in#law a cheery letter$ sayin" the "irl had *robably been doin" too !uch$ and had felt the strain of the affair of the solicitor !ore

than they had realised. The doctor says it is a kind of low fe+er$ she told the 7ortons1 but 8I8 say$ heat$ s!ells$ and fussiness. After a few days( e&*erience$ she owned that the /oirEs were certainly not lackin" in kindness$ but still she did not care to stay there +ery lon"1 and she told 2enys 7orton that she had ne+er been so *olite$ under *ro+ocation$ in her life before. The uncle and ne*hew$ who had not yet !o+ed on$ did not s*eak of continuin" their tra+els for the *resent$ and 7iss Britton was +ery "lad to know they were in the town. 'ne of Barbara(s re"rets was that she had !issed seein" the !eetin" between 7r. 7orton and her aunt$ and that she was *erha*s kee*in" the latter fro! en4oyin" as !uch of his co!*any as she !i"ht otherwise ha+e done. There were !any thin"s she wanted to do with 7iss Britton when allowed to "et u*$ but in the !eanwhile she had to content herself with talkin" about the!. .he was !uch touched by the attention of 7ade!oiselle 9irE$ who sent round by )eannette wonderful ho!e#!ade dainties that$ as Barbara e&*lained to her aunt$ she ou"ht to ha+e been eatin" herself. A fortni"ht after 7iss Britton(s arri+al Barbara was allowed to "o downstairs$ and$ after ha+in" once been out$ her health ca!e back like a swallow(s fli"ht$ as 7ade!oiselle ThErDse *oetically$ thou"h a little a!bi"uously$ described it. .he and her aunt s*ent as !uch ti!e out of doors as *ossible$ "oin" for so !any e&cursions that Barbara be"an to know the country round 5uite well1 but$ thou"h !any of the dri+es were beautiful$ none see!ed to e5ual the one she had had with 7ade!oiselle 9irE$ which was a thin" a*art. They dro+e to /a Bui!orais a"ain one afternoon$ and on their return the "irl told 2enys 7orton$ who had been with the!$ the story of the 8!anoir8. He was silent for a little at the close$ then$ as if it had su""ested another story to his !ind$ he looked towards where his uncle and 7iss Britton were walkin" u* and down. I would "i+e anythin"##al!ost anythin"$ at least##that he !i"ht be ha**y now1 he has had a "reat deal of the other thin" in the *ast$ he said. .o would I$ Barbara a"reed. 0ou know$ I couldn(t 5uite understand it before$ but I do now. 3hen you(re ill##or su**osed to be##you see 5uite another side of Aunt Anne and one that she doesn(t always show. 'f course$ your uncle is 4ust s*lendid. I can(t understand how aunt

could ha+e been so silly. 2enys lau"hed softly$ then "rew "ra+e$ and when they s*oke a"ain it was of other thin"s$ for both felt that it was a sub4ect that !ust be touched with no rou"h$ e+eryday fin"ers. They would hate to ha+e it discussed$ was the thou"ht in the !ind of each. But the story of 7ade!oiselle 9irE$ and all that he had heard about her$ !ade 2enys wish to see her$ and as Aunt Anne felt it a duty to call there before lea+in" .t. .er+an$ Barbara took the! all in turns$ and was deli"hted because her old friend !ade a con5uest of each one. E+en 7iss Britton$ who did not as a rule like ,rench *eo*le$ told her niece she was "lad she had not !issed this +isit. As neither 7ade!oiselle 9irE nor 7iss Britton knew the other(s lan"ua"e$ the inter+iew had been rather a!usin"$ and Barbara(s *owers as inter*reter had been ta&ed to the utter!ost$ !ore es*ecially as she felt an&ious to do her *art well so as to *lease both ladies. 3hen 7ade!oiselle 9irE saw that her *retty re!arks were not understood$ she said "racefully## Ah% I see that$ as I a! unfortunate enou"h to know no En"lish$ !ada!e$ I can only use the lan"ua"e of the eyes. Barbara translated the re!ark with fear and tre!blin"$ afraid that her aunt would look "ri! as she did when she thou"ht *eo*le were talkin" hu!bu"$ but instead$ she had bidden Barbara re*ly that 7ade!oiselle 9irE would *robably be as far beyond her in ele"ance in that lan"ua"e as in her own1 and the "irl thou"ht that to draw such a s*eech fro! her aunt(s li*s was indeed a triu!*h. The lady certainly did s!ile at the inscri*tion 7ade!oiselle 9irE wrote on the fly#leaf of a book of *oe!s she was "i+in" the "irl$ and which$ 7iss Britton declared$ was like an inscri*tion on a to!bstone## A 7ade!oiselle Barbara Britton$ 8Connue tro* tard$ *erdue tro* tOt.8 But she did not lau"h when she heard what the little lady had said on Barbara(s last +isit. 3e are of different faiths$ 8!on a!ie8$ but you will not !ind if I *ut u* a *rayer for you so!eti!es. It can do you no har!$ and if we do not !eet here a"ain$ *erha*s the "ood Bod will let us !ake !usic to"ether u* yonder.

7iss Britton fi&ed the day of de*arture as soon as Barbara was ready for the 4ourney$ *ro*osin" to "o ho!e in easy sta"es by Rouen and 2ie**e$ so that they !i"ht see the churches of which 7r. 7orton had talked so !uch. The uncle and ne*hew had 4ust co!e fro! that town$ and were now returnin" to Paris$ and thence$ 2enys thou"ht$ to En"land. 7ade!oiselle ThErDse was desolated to hear that Barbara(s +isit was really drawin" to a close$ and assured her aunt that a few !ore !onths would !ake Barbara a *erfect s*eaker1 for I ha+e ne+er known one of your nation of such talent in our lan"ua"e$ she declared. 'f course that isn(t true$ 7iss Britton said coolly to Barbara afterwards$ thou"h I think you ha+e been dili"ent$ and both 7ade!oiselle 9irE and the 5ueer little !an ne&t door say you s*eak fairly well. The 5ueer little !an ne&t door asked the! both in to su**er before they went$ to show 7iss Britton$ he said$ what a ,rench!an could do in the cookin" line. Barbara had so!e little difficulty in *ersuadin" her aunt to "o$ thou"h she relented at last$ and the e&*erience was certainly +ery funny$ thou"h *athetic enou"h too. He and his sons could talk +ery little En"lish$ and a"ain Barbara had to *lay inter*reter$ or correct the !istakes they !ade in En"lish$ which was e5ually difficult. They had decorated the table "aily$ and the father and son both looked so hot$ that Barbara was sure they had s*ent a lon" ti!e o+er the cookin". The first ite! was a sou* which the widower had often s*oken of as bein" !ade better by hi!self than by !any a 8chef8$ and consisted of what see!ed to Barbara a kind of beef#tea with *ieces of bread floatin" in it. But on this occasion the bread see!ed to ha+e swelled to tre!endous *ro*ortions$ and absorbed the sou* so that there was hardly anythin" but what see!ed da!*$ swollen rolls% Aunt Anne$ Barbara declared afterwards$ was !a"nificent$ and *lodded her way throu"h bread s*on"es fla+oured with sou*$ assurin" the distressed cook that it was really 5uite re!arkable *ota"e$ and that she had ne+er tasted anythin" like it before##all of which$ of course$ was *erfectly true. The chicken$ which ca!e ne&t$ was cooked +ery well$ only it had been stuffed with sa"e and onions$ and 7onsieur said$ with *ride$ that they had thou"ht it would be nice to "i+e 7ade!oiselle Britton and her niece 8one8 En"lish dish$ in case they did not like the other thin"s% It was durin" this course that Barbara(s "ra+ity was a little tried$ not so !uch because of the idea of chicken with sa"e and onions$ as because of

the stolidity of her aunt(s e&*ression##the "irl knowin" that if there was one thin" that lady was *articular about$ it was the correct cookin" of *oultry. There were +arious other ite!s on the !enu$ and it was so e+ident that their host and his eldest son had taken a "reat deal of trouble o+er the *re*aration of the !eal$ that the +isitors were really touched$ and did their best to show their a**reciation of the attentions *aid the!. In that they were successful$ and when they left the house the widower and his sons were wreathed in s!iles. But when they had "ot to a safe distance Aunt Anne e&clai!ed$ 3hat a silly !an not to kee* a ser+ant% 'h$ but aunt$ Barbara e&*lained$ he thinks he could not !ana"e a ser+ant$ and he is really !ost de+oted to his children. It(s all nonsense about the ser+ant$ 7iss Britton retorted. How can a !an kee* houseNe+ertheless$ when 7ade!oiselle /oirE be"an to 5uestion her rather curiously as to the dinner$ she said they had been entertained +ery nicely$ and that !onsieur !ust be an e&tre!ely cle+er !an to !ana"e thin"s so well. 'ne other +isit Barbara !ade before lea+in" .t. .er+an$ and that was to say "ood#bye to the bath#boy. It had needed so!e *ersuasion on her *art to "ain her aunt(s *er!ission for this +isit. But$ aunt$ dear$ Barbara said *ersuasi+ely$ he hel*ed !e with Alice$ and lost his *lace because of it. It would be so 8+ery8 unkind to "o away without seein" how they are "ettin" on. 3ell$ I su**ose you !ust "o$ but if I had known what a ca*acity you had for "ettin" entan"led in such *lots$ Barbara$ really I should ha+e been afraid to trust you alone here. It was ti!e I ca!e out to *ut !atters ri"ht. 0es$ aunt$ Barbara a"reed sedately$ but with a twinkle in her eyes$ I really think it was$ and she went to "et ready for her +isit to the bath#boy.

CHAPTER KIK.

THE EN2 ', THE .T'R0. 3hen the day for *artin" ca!e Barbara found that it cost her !any *an"s to lea+e the! all##7ade!oiselle 9irE first and fore!ost$ and the others in less de"ree$ for she had "rown fond e+en of 7ade!oiselle ThErDse. The latter lady declared she and her household were inconsolable and unha**y enou"h to wear !ournin"$ which re!ark Barbara took with a "rain of salt$ as she did !ost thin"s that lady said. But the two sisters and 7arie all went to the station to say "ood#bye$ and each of the! kissed her on both cheeks$ wee*in" the while. Barbara was not +ery fond of kisses fro! outsiders in any case$ but wee*in" kisses$ as she called the!$ were certainly a trial% 3hat finally dried 7ade!oiselle ThErDse(s tears was to see the widower and his two sons enterin" the station$ each carryin" a bou5uet of flowers. .o *ushin" of the!$ she !ur!ured in Barbara(s ear$ and turned coldly u*on the!1 but the "irl and her aunt were touched by the kindness$ and the for!er felt horribly asha!ed when she re!e!bered that !ore than once in *ri+ate she had lau"hed at the 5uaint little !an and his ways. Barbara heard her aunt !utterin" so!ethin" about a dreadful hu!bu" once or twice$ but she was +ery "racious to e+ery one$ and s!iled u*on the! all until the train left the station$ when she sank back with an air of relief and e&clai!ed$ Thank "oodness% That(s o+er##thou"h$ of course$ they !eant it kindly. They are +ery kind$ Barbara said$ lookin" down at the three bou5uets on the seat. I really don(t deser+e that they should be so kind. Probably not$ 7iss Britton returned cal!ly. 3e so!eti!es "et !ore than our deserts$ so!eti!es less$ so *erha*s thin"s ad4ust the!sel+es in the end. I was really rather astonished not to see the bath#boy at the station too##your ac5uaintance see!s so +aried. 0es$ I ha+e learned a "reat deal since I went there$ Barbara said thou"htfully1 and 4ust at the end I felt I didn(t want to co!e away at all. I ha+e no such feelin"s$ her aunt re!arked$ thou"h$ *erha*s$ a little thou"htfully also. But when they arri+ed at Rouen$ the re!e!brance of their *leasant ti!e in Paris returned to the!$ and they both felt ready for the deli"hts of seein" a new town. A*art fro! the infor!ation "i+en by the 7ortons Barbara felt already

fa!iliar with the "reat churches and 5uaint streets$ and for her Rouen ne+er 5uite lost the halo of ro!ance that 7ade!oiselle 9irE had endowed it with. It was to be connected with yet another story of the *ast$ howe+er$ before they left it$ one which$ for ro!ance$ was fully e5ual to 7ade!oiselle 9irE(s$ thou"h its conclusion was so !uch ha**ier. It was the second day of their stay$ and after a !ornin" of wanderin" about the town$ both Barbara and her aunt were restin"$ the for!er on the balcony in front of her roo!$ the latter on the terrace in the "arden. Althou"h a book was in her la*$ Barbara was not readin"$ but$ with hands clas*ed behind her head$ was idly watchin" the *assers#by$ when suddenly la:iness +anished fro! her attitude$ and her "a:e beca!e intent on the fi"ure of so!e one who had 4ust turned into the *ortico of the hotel. .he rose fro! the low chair$ her eyes shinin" with e&cite!ent. It certainly was he% she said. Now$ Barbara##it is ti!e for you to eli!inate yourself##you !ust lie on the couch and try to look *ale. .he *ulled down the window blind$ ran into her roo!$ and had hardly settled herself u*on the couch when$ as she had e&*ected$ a !aid ca!e u* with a !essa"e askin" her to "o down to the terrace. Please tell 7iss Britton I ha+e a headache$ and a! lyin" down for a little$ Barbara said$ con"ratulatin" herself u*on the *ossession of what had annoyed her considerably a short ti!e before$ thou"h in an ordinary way she would ha+e scoffed at the idea of lyin" down for a headache. A few !inutes afterwards u* ca!e her aunt$ lookin" +ery concerned$ and fearin" lest they had been doin" too !uch. Barbara(s heart s!ote her$ but she told herself that she !ust be fir!. I sent for you to co!e to see 7r. 7orton$ senior$ Aunt Anne e&*lained. .tran"ely enou"h$ he arri+ed this !ornin" in Rouen$ and has *ut u* at another hotel. How nice. How +ery nice% I shall co!e down later$ aunt. I e&*ect I shall be 85uite8 all ri"ht shortly. .he had a little difficulty in *ersuadin" her aunt that it was not necessary to stay beside her$ but at last succeeded in doin" so$ and "a+e a chuckle of 4oy when the door closed. .he had intended to "o down to the "arden later on$ but$ stran"e to

say$ fell fast aslee*$ and did not awaken until the !an ta**ed at her door$ sayin" the tea had been ordered for four o(clock$ but now$ althou"h it was half#*ast$ !ada!e had not returned$ ha+in" "one alon" the ri+er bank$ he belie+ed$ with !onsieur. .o Barbara hastily descended and had tea##+ery !uch brewed##all by herself$ and then returned to her roo! to read. .he had finished her book$ and was thinkin" of "ettin" ready for dinner$ when Aunt Anne ca!e in##5uite a different Aunt Anne fro! the one she knew$ with all her decision fled. .he fid"eted about for so!e ti!e$ sayin" nothin" of i!*ortance$ then at last turned round and be"an hastily## I did a +ery silly thin" once lon" a"o$ Barbara$ and to#day I ha+e done what I a! afraid *eo*le !ay think still sillier##I ha+e *ro!ised to !arry 7r. 7orton. 3hereu*on Barbara sei:ed her ra*turously. 'h$ aunt$ she cried$ I(! so "lad$ 4ust "ladder than of anythin" else I could ha+e heard. It##it is a "reat relief$ Barbara$ she said unsteadily$ to ha+e you take it so. I##was afraid you !i"ht lau"h. 0ou know$ it needs so!e coura"e for a *erson of !y a"e to do a thin" like that. It is different for a "irl like you$ but I could not ha+e done it$ had I not felt that since he desired it so ur"ently$ I ou"ht to ri"ht the wron" I had done hi! lon" a"o. 0ou can(t hel* bein" +ery ha**y$ aunt$ said Barbara$ I(! sure$ with such a nice !an as 7r. 7orton. The only re"ret 8I8 ha+e is that you(+e lost so !uch of the ti!e#### Then$ seein" her aunt(s face$ she felt inclined to strike herself for ha+in" s*oken foolishly. 7r. 7orton is in the "arden$ her aunt said after a !o!ent. It would be nice if you went down and saw hi!. And Barbara s*ed away. That inter+iew was a**arently entirely satisfactory$ for 7iss Britton$ en4oinin" the! later$ found Barbara had 4ust issued an in+itation in her !other(s na!e and that it had been acce*ted. And$ of course$ you will co!e too$ aunt$ the "irl added. There was one *art in the arran"e!ents that Barbara be""ed to be left to her$ and that was the letter ho!e tellin" the news.

0ou see$ Aunt Anne$ she said$ I naturally feel as if I had rather a bi" share in the !atter. I think surely it was 2enys 7orton(s letter that brou"ht !e$ 7iss Britton corrected1 but write if you like$ Barbara. And$ indeed$ she was rather "lad to be relie+ed fro! the res*onsibility.

CHAPTER KK. THE C'2A. If Barbara had been at ho!e when her letter arri+ed$ she would ha+e been 5uite content with the e&cite!ent it caused. At first ,rances and 2onald were inclined to think it a hu"e 4oke$ but ha+in" read to the end of Barbara(s letter they felt rather differently. Aunt Anne had acted !ore wisely than she knew in allowin" her niece to be the one to write and tell of her en"a"e!ent. 'f course$ 2onald said in his decided way$ we !ust do the *ro*er thin" by her and treat her nicely##for after all$ ,rances$ she(s been rather a brick about Barbara##and the last ti!e she stayed she was !uch i!*ro+ed. It(ll be interestin" ha+in" a new uncle too$ ,rances re!arked co!*lacently. 3e(re rather badly off for uncles$ 2on$ and fro! what Barbara says this 7r. 7orton !ust be +ery##nice$ thou"h$ of course$ Barbara isn(t 5uite to be trusted$ seein" she(s such a friend of 2enys(. /et !e see$ now$ what relation will 8he8 be to us'h$ don(t bother about relationshi*s at *resent##you !ay 4ust ha+e to rearran"e the! a"ain$ 2onald said i!*atiently. /et(s "o and be thinkin" of so!ethin" to welco!e Barbara back. 'n that !atter they held a lon" consultation$ 2onald bein" in fa+our of takin" the horse out of the fly and drawin" it ho!e the!sel+es$ and ,rances inclinin" !ore to wreaths and decoration. .he "ot her way in the end$ as she *ointed out to her brother that the cab!an would *robably not allow the! to take the horse out$ and that they would ha+e to *ay for it all the sa!e$ and worst of all$ that they would be so !uch out of breath with *ullin" that they would not be able to ask any 5uestions when they "ot ho!e. It was *robably the last

reason that wei"hed the !ost with 2onald$ who a"reed to de+ote his ener"ies to !akin" an archway o+er the "arden *ath and settin" off so!e fireworks in the e+enin". 'n the whole$ the arch was 5uite a success$ and looked +ery *retty$ thou"h it was not so secure as it !i"ht ha+e been$ and its !akers felt it safer to fasten to it a lar"e label with the inscri*tion$ Not to be handled. The tra+ellers were not to arri+e till late in the afternoon$ and *oor 7rs. Britton was dri+en nearly distracted by the intense e&cite!ent *er+adin" a!on" the children durin" the !ornin". 'ne of the twins had actually su""ested *uttin" on her best frock the ni"ht before so as to be 5uite ready on the followin" day. It is seldo! that such an ea"erly#e&*ected e+ent is not disa**ointin" in so!e detail of its fulfil!ent$ but there was not a shade u*on the ha**iness on this occasion. Barbara and 7iss Britton arri+ed at the ri"ht ti!e$ 8with8 their lu""a"e1 the archway re!ained fir! until both the tra+ellers had *assed underneath ;thou"h it colla*sed shortly afterwards<1 and the fireworks were as successful as such thin"s usually are. It is true that 2onald was a trifle hurried o+er dis*layin" the!$ for Barbara was as an&ious to un*ack the treasures she had brou"ht ho!e as the children were to see the!. 0ou are still a 8little8 thin$ dear$ 7rs. Britton said$ as she watched her dau"hter1 but Barbara declared it was i!a"ination$ and 2onald and ,rances "a+e it as their o*inion that it was only the ,renchy kind of look she had. 0ou ha+e dressed her in such 4olly thin"s$ aunt$ ,rances said ad!irin"ly. I like a *erson to co!e ho!e lookin" like the country she(s co!e fro!$ and it(ll be a "reat ad+anta"e to her teachin"##she(ll "et hea*s of *u*ils$ I(! sure. 'h$ we(ll not talk about the teachin" 4ust yet$ 7rs. Britton said 5uickly. .he !ust ha+e a week or two free first$ and then it will be ti!e enou"h for us to think about it1 and to that there was no dissentient +oice##e&ce*t Barbara(s. Aunt Anne had brou"ht ho!e so!e treasures too1 but was 5uite willin" to kee* hers till later$ and the children declared$ with round eyes of deli"ht$ that Barbara had brou"ht enou"h to last for a +ery lon" ti!e. 0ou really were a brick to brin" so !any lo+ely thin"s$ Barbara$ said

,rances$ tryin" to fi& in a brooch with one hand while she stroked a silk blouse with the other. This brooch is so *retty$ I(! really not "oin" to lose it$ thou"h I can(t think how you "ot enou"h !oney to buy so !uch. 7iss Britton looked across at her niece$ who hastily di+ed into her trunk a"ain1 but the for!er confided to her sister#in#law afterwards$ that Barbara had distributed the re!ainder of the !oney she had "i+en her for ridin" lessons between the bath#boy and *resents for the ho!e#*eo*le$ which news !ade 7rs. Britton *ri:e 8her8 share of the treasures !ore than e+er. The only thin" that a little disa**ointed the children was that Uncle 7orton had not arri+ed too. It(s a *ity he didn(t co!e with you$ we(re all so an&ious to see hi!$ ,rances re!arked$ lookin" at her aunt$ who! Barbara relie+ed by answerin" in her stead. Both 7r. 7orton and his ne*hew are co!in" soon to the inn$ she said$ so you ha+en(t lon" to wait. But their curiosity rose to al!ost unbearable hei"hts before the fortni"ht was o+er$ and Barbara had a little difficulty in !akin" the! sole!nly *ro!ise that they would not bother their aunt with 5uestions !eanwhile. ,rances and 2onald both wished to "o to the station to !eet the train$ but this their !other forbade. 0ou will see the! here to#ni"ht$ she said1 they are co!in" u* to dinner. 7eanwhile$ content yoursel+es with Barbara. 0es$ re!arked 2onald1 we really didn(t realise how !uch we !issed Barbara until she was back. It(s 4ust 4olly ha+in" her. Ne+ertheless$ they disa**eared suddenly durin" the afternoon$ and did not return until about an hour before dinner$ when they both wore the half shee*ish$ half triu!*hant e&*ression that Barbara knew of old !eant so!e esca*ade successfully carried throu"h. Inowin" they would *robably tell her what it was$ she went on arran"in" the flowers on the dinner#table while they fid"eted round the roo!. I say$ 2onald said at last$ I really think Uncle 7orton is one of the nicest elderly !en I(+e !et for so!e ti!e$ *erha*s e+er.

0es$ ,rances a"reed1 I think so too. He(ll be 5uite an e&5uisition as an uncle. But we didn(t "o to the station$ she hastened to add$ as Barbara turned round to listen. 2onald wanted to "o u* to the inn this afternoon##at least we both did##to see 7r. Bates about the rabbit he *ro!ised us$ and we were talkin" to hi! 5uite co!fortably when a "entle!an ca!e and stood at the door lookin" into the *assa"e. (That(s an A!erican "entle!an as has co!e to#day with his ne*hew$( 7r. Bates re!arked$ and$ of course$ we knew it !ust be Uncle 7orton$ and we thou"ht since we 8were8 there it would be rather unkind to "o away without e+er "i+in" hi! a welco!in" word. 7r. Bates thou"ht so too when we asked his o*inion$ so we 4ust went and introduced oursel+es$ and told hi! we were "lad to see hi!$ and so on. 3e saw the ne*hew too. 0es$ 2onald went on$ without "i+in" Barbara a chance to s*eak$ and as he see!ed +ery "lad to see us$ and said it was kind of us to look in on hi!$ of course we stayed a little lon"er. He(s an interestin" !an. I(! "lad you like hi!$ Barbara said$ bubblin" o+er with lau"hter. I(! sure it !ust be a relief to hi!. 0es$ 2onald nodded$ and to the ne*hew too. I think we(ll be 5uite "ood friends with hi!. 0ou see$ Barbara$ he went on$ fearin" lest she should feel disa**ro+al about their +isit$ it really was better for the! not to ha+e to face us 8all8 in a !ass. Now they(+e "ot 8us8 o+er##they(+e only to "et !other(s a**ro+al. But this re!ark was alto"ether too !uch for Barbara(s "ra+ity$ and she dro+e her brother and sister off to !ake the!sel+es *resentable. But when their +isitors had "one that e+enin" and she was talkin" in her !other(s roo!$ she told the story of the afternoon a"ain$ and they lau"hed o+er it to"ether. Conceited little creatures$ 7rs. Britton said. But !y 4ud"!ent coincides with theirs$ Barbara##and yours. I think he is one of the nicest !en I ha+e !et$ and it is s*lendid to see the! so ha**y. 0es$ Barbara re*lied contentedly1 it was really rather a ha**y thin" that I was chased by that cyclist and !et the (A!erican *retender$( wasn(t it$ !otherI dare say it was$ said 7rs. Britton1 but she eyed her dau"hter

rather wistfully$ then kissed her and bade her "o to bed$ thou"h lon" after the "irl had left her she sit thinkin". It was clear to her$ as it had been to Aunt Anne for so!e ti!e$ that 2enys 7orton was an&ious to !ake his uncle Barbara(s$ by a less round#about !ethod than throu"h his connection with Aunt Anne1 and before a week had *assed he had s*oken of his desire$ astonishin" no one so !uch as Barbara herself. 'f course$ said 2onald$ who had "one to his !other for infor!ation on the !atter$ and was now discussin" it in the *ri+acy of the a**le#tree with ,rances$ I felt$ as eldest son$ I ou"ht to be told about it$ thou"h I knew as soon as I saw 2enys 7orton that he wanted to !arry Barbara. He would ha+e been +ery foolish if he hadn(t$ ,rances re!arked. But$ of course$ Barbara is such an unself#conscious kind of *erson that it was 5uite natural 8she8 should be sur*rised. Aunt Anne says she would choose 2enys abo+e e+ery one for Barbara##only$ naturally$ she(s "ot a leanin" to the fa!ily. 2onald nodded. .o ha+e I$ thou"h that(s no "ood if Barbara doesn(t want to !ake u* her !ind$ and she see!s not to. In any case$ !other thinks she(s too youn"$ thou"h I should ha+e thou"ht that Aunt Anne kind of balanced it##bein" fairly old$ you know1 and besides$ 2enys is a lot older than she is. 3ell$ said ,rances$ 8I8 shall "i+e hi! all the encoura"e!ent I can$ for I think he(s +ery nice. I belie+e$ 2onald$ that he didn(t "o to Rouen 4ust because it(s an infectious kind of thin"$ and he didn(t want to ask Barbara before he had told !other and us#### There he is$ interru*ted 2onald. He looks rather down1 let(s "o and cheer hi! u*$ and the two dro**ed o+er the wall into the field that bordered the "arden. They sauntered towards the *ath leadin" to the ri+er$ and sur*rised 2enys not a little by suddenly 4oinin" hi!. GIllustrationF They sur*rised 2enys by suddenly 4oinin" hi!. H I say$ 2onald be"an$ without "i+in" hi! ti!e to s*eak$ I don(t think you need be worried$##I(+e known Barbara a "ood lon" ti!e$ and I(+e ne+er known her to be so absent#!inded before. To say that 2enys was startled is kee*in" strictly within the li!its of truth$ and at first he was not sure whether he felt an"ry or a!used.

But he had "rown *retty well accusto!ed to 2onald and ,rances by this ti!e$ and after a !o!ent of e!barrass!ent acce*ted the situation. Thank you$ he said$ it is kind of you to take an interest in##!e. Not at all$ ,rances said "raciously$ we think it(s really rather hard lines on you$ as$ of course we knew all alon" you wanted to !arry Barbara. By 4o+e% !uttered 2enys a little hel*lessly. 0es$ of course$ 2onald *ut in. Anybody sensible would want to do that. If I hadn(t been her brother 8I8 should ha+e. But thou"h it(s rather rou"h on you$ I think two !onths( absence in A!erica will 4ust be the thin" for Barbara. The youn" !an "a:ed at his youthful ad+iser$ and was so o+er*owered that he could think of nothin" to say. 3hen do you "o- 2onald continued. Ne&t week. I(! co!in" back in si& weeks##not two !onths##for !y uncle(s weddin"$ said 2enys$ findin" his +oice. There was a *ause$ and ,rances$ seein" fro! her brother(s e&*ression that he was dee* in thou"ht$ forbore to !ake any re!ark until she saw hi! s!ile$ then she said## 3ell$ 2onaldBut her brother addressed hi!self to 2enys## Considerin" you(+e been here a "ood ti!e now$ he said$ you ha+en(t seen !uch of the country really. .u**ose you ca!e for a lon" walk on the !oor to#!orrow with ,rances and !e##and Barbara2enys( eyes li"hted u*. If Barbara will$ I shall be char!ed$ he said. I think she(ll co!e$ 2onald said cheerfully1 and !o+ed by so!e *ersuasion or force Barbara consented$ and the four started off across the !oors. They started to"ether##that was certain##but did not return in the sa!e !anner$ for 2onald and ,rances had "ot !ost thorou"hly lost$ althou"h as 2onald said$ with a "rin$ he had walked that !oor$ !an and boy$ for the *ast si& years.

But when the two truants returned they did not see! at all cast down by their !isfortune$ while 2enys certainly ca!e back in a !ore cheerful !ood than that in which he had set out. I think you(ll find thin"s all ri"ht when you co!e back a"ain$ 2onald whis*ered on the !ornin" the +isitors were to "o$ and 2enys$ noddin"$ "ri**ed his hand so ti"htly that the boy winced. I think$ said ,rances$ as she watched the carria"e disa**earin"## I think$ 2onald$ Aunt Anne ou"ht to be +ery thankful she was so "enerous. .he has been rewarded$ hasn(t she$ in findin" Uncle 7orton0es$ +irtue has had its reward. But you know$ ,rances$ I think we(re bein" rather "enerous too. 0es- ,rances said interro"ati+ely. 3ell$ the end will be that we lose Barbara$ and we ha+en(t raised a fin"er to *re+ent it##on the contrary we(+e hel*ed##and you know we(re ne+er likely to find another sister like her. No$ of course not. But all the sa!e a weddin"##and I su**ose there(ll be two##will !ake a "rand finale like the (Codas( you ha+e in !arches. 0es. 0ou(re really rather *oetical$ ,rances. And *erha*s by the ti!e you(re ready for ,rance another aunt will turn u* to take you there. I ho*e so$ thou"h they can(t always e&*ect to find Uncle 7ortons as a reward. But there(s ti!e enou"h to think of that1 and at any rate$ 2on$ I(! "oin" to be bride(s#!aid at the weddin". 0es$ said 2onald. And there(ll be two weddin" cakes runnin"$ ,ran##think of that%

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