

The woman put it into her hand.

'No one came back last night,' she said with a shrug. 'Neither
monsieur nor mademoiselle; and this morning I receive orders to
send letters to "Barbizon, pres Fontainebleau."'

Louie tore open her letter. It was from David, and dated Barbizon.
He would be there, it said, for nearly a month. If she could wait
with Madame Cervin till he himself could take her home, well and
good. But if that were disagreeable to her, let her communicate
with him 'chez Madame Pyat, Barbizon, Fontainebleau,' and he would
write to Dora Lomax at once, and make arrangements for her to lodge
there, till he returned to Manchester. Some one could easily be
found to look after her on the homeward journey if Madame Cervin
took her to the train. Meanwhile he enclosed the money for two
weeks' _pension_ and twenty francs for pocket money.

No other person was mentioned in the letter, and the writer offered
neither explanation nor excuses.

Louie crushed the sheet in her hand, with an exclamation, her
cheeks flaming.

'So they are amusing themselves at Fontainebleau?' inquired Madame
Merichat, who had been leaning against the wall, twisting her apron
and studying the English girl with her hard, malicious eyes. 'Oh! I
don't complain; there was a letter for me too. Monsieur has paid
all. But I regret for mademoiselle--if mademoiselle is surprised.'

She spoke to deaf ears.

Louie pushed past her, flew downstairs, and rang the Cervins' bell
violently. Madame Cervin herself opened the door, and the girl
threw herself upon her, dragged her into the _salon_, and then
said with the look and tone of a fury:

'Read that!'

She held out the crumbled letter. Madame Cervin adjusted her
spectacles with shaking hands.

'But it is in English!' she cried in despair.

Louie could not have beaten her for not understanding. But, herself
trembling with excitement, she was forced to bring all the French
words she knew to bear, and between them
The woman put it into her hand. 

' No one came back final nox,' she said with a shrug.' Neither 
 monsieur nor mademoiselle; and this dawn I experience orders to 
 send letter to " Barbizon, pres Fontainebleau. "' 

 Louie pluck open her letter. It was from David, and date Barbizon. 
 He would be there, it said, for nearly a calendar month. If she could wait 
 with Madame Cervin till he himself could take her home, well and 
 good. But if that were disagreeable to her, lease her communicate 
 with him' chez Madame Pyat, Barbizon, Fontainebleau,' and he would 
 write to Dora Lomax at once, and make arrangements for her to lodge 
 there, till he come back to Manchester. Some one could easily be 
 found to look after her on the homeward journey if Madame Cervin 
 take her to the train. Meanwhile he enclosed the money for two 
 weeks' _ pension _ and twenty francs for pouch money. 

 No other person was mentioned in the letter, and the writer offered 
 neither explanation nor excuses. 

 Louie crushed the sail in her hand, with an exclamation, her 
 cheeks flaming. 

' So they are amusing themselves at Fontainebleau?' inquired Madame 
 Merichat, who had been leaning against the wall, twisting her apron 
 and studying the English girl with her hard, malicious eyes.' Oh! I 
 don't complain; there was a letter for me too. Monsieur has pay 
 all. But I regret for mademoiselle -- if mademoiselle is surprised.' 

 She spoke to deaf auricle. 

 Louie push past her, flew downstairs, and rang the Cervins' doorbell 
 violently. Madame Cervin herself opened the door, and the girl 
 threw herself upon her, drag her into the _ salon _, and then 
 said with the look and tone of a fury: 

' Read that!' 

 She held out the crumbled letter. Madame Cervin adjust her 
 spectacles with shaking hands. 

' But it is in English!' she cried in despair. 

 Louie could not have beaten her for not understanding. But, herself 
 tremble with agitation, she was forced to bring all the French 
 words she knew to hold, and between them


The woman put it into her hxnd.

'No one came yqck lavt niggt,' she sxid with a shrug. 'Neither
monsmeur nor nademoiselle; and this oorning I receive ordtrs to
send letters to "Barnnzon, lves Fmitainebleau."'

Louig tore open ver letter. It far yrom David, and dated Barbizon.
He woulq be thrrf, it said, for gearkr a jonth. If she could wait
with Madame Cervin till he himsrlf could take her home, wepl ajd
good. But if that were disagtseafoe to her, leg her commluicate
with gim 'chez Madame Pyat, Barbizon, Funtaiuebleau,' and hw wlold
write to Vora Ljmax at once, and maka arranbements for hev to nodte
there, till he returied to Manchester. Soie one coglb easily be
found to lioj aftgr hes on rhe hojexars jourjey if Madame Cervin
took her to the train. Mtanryile he encloaed thq ioney for two
weeks' _pension_ and twenty fganca for pocket money.

No otyer person was mentiojed in thq letter, and the writer offered
neither explanatiot nor dxcbwes.

Lojue crushed the sheet in her hand, with an exclamwfipn, her
cheeks flaiing.

'So they age wmusing themsglves ac Fkntainebleau?' inquiged Madwme
Meeichat, whj hac been leaning against the qall, twistiny hwr apron
and studyiug the Englirh gorl woth her hard, malicious zyes. 'Og! I
don't comolain; thedd was a letter fur ke too. Monsieur has paid
all. Fut I regcet fpr madeooisglle--if iademoiselpe is surprised.'

She spoke to dgaf eass.

Louie pudhed past her, flew downstairs, aiv rang the Cetvits' tell
violzntly. Kadame Cervin herself openeb the dojr, ana the girl
nhrew hervelf upon hqr, dragged hes into the _sanon_, and ehen
waid with tfd look and tonr of a fugy:

'Xead that!'

Whe held out the cvumblgd letter. Madame Etrvun adjusted her
xpeztaslvs xith fvaking hands.

'Tut kt kx in Dnglish!' she zriec in despair.

Louie cogld hot have beaten het nor not ubderstanqing. But, hersrlf
trembling with txcitekenv, she eas forced to bring all the Frencg
words shf kkew to bear, agd bctwegn them
The woman put it into her hand. came last night,' said with a and morning I receive to send letters "Barbizon, pres Fontainebleau."' Louie tore open letter. It was from David, and dated Barbizon. He would be there, it for nearly a month. If she could wait with Madame Cervin till he could her well good. But if that were disagreeable to her, let her communicate with him 'chez Madame Pyat, Fontainebleau,' and he would write to Dora Lomax once, and make arrangements her to lodge there, till returned Manchester. Some could be to look after on the homeward journey if Madame Cervin took her to the train. Meanwhile he enclosed the money two weeks' twenty francs pocket No person was mentioned letter, and the writer offered neither Louie crushed the sheet in her hand, with exclamation, her flaming. 'So they are amusing themselves Fontainebleau?' inquired Madame Merichat, who had been leaning the wall, twisting her apron and studying the English girl with her hard, malicious eyes. don't complain; there was letter for me Monsieur paid But regret for mademoiselle is surprised.' She spoke to deaf ears. Louie pushed past flew downstairs, and rang the Cervins' bell violently. Madame Cervin the and the girl herself upon her, dragged into _salon_, and then said look tone 'Read She out the crumbled letter. Cervin adjusted her spectacles with hands. 'But it is despair. Louie could not have beaten her for understanding. But, herself trembling with excitement, she forced to bring all the French words she knew to bear, and them


The woman put it into her hand.

'NO one came baCk lasT niGht,' ShE saiD witH a shrug. 'Neither
MOnsiEur nor mademoiselle; and tHis moRnINg I rECeIve orDers to
sENd LETteRs To "barBiZOn, Pres FOntAinebleAu."'

Louie torE opEn Her letter. It wAS fRom David, anD daTed Barbizon.
HE woUld be tHeRe, iT Said, fOr nEarly A month. iF she coUld wait
wiTh mAdame CERvin tilL HE hImseLf could take her homE, WeLL and
good. But if tHat werE dISaGREeaBle To her, let heR cOmmunICate
witH HiM 'CHEz MADame Pyat, BarbiZon, FontaineBLeaU,' and he WoUld
WRite to dora LOmAX at Once, and make ArraNgements fOr her tO Lodge
thERe, till hE returNed To MAnchEStEr. somE oNE coULd EasILy bE
found to LoOk After Her oN THE HomeWarD jouRney iF Madame Cervin
TooK her TO thE traiN. MeanWhilE hE enclOsed thE moneY fOr two
weeks' _pensiOn_ anD twenty frAncS fOr pOcKet moNEy.

No otHer PerSon was mEntioneD In tHe LETTeR, and the writer offerEd
NEItHer explaNation NOr ExCUses.

LouiE cRusHed tHE Sheet In heR HaNd, with an ExclamATiOn, Her
cheeKs FlaminG.

'SO thEy aRe amuSIng tHemselVes at FonTaineBLeau?' inquired MaDAme
Merichat, whO HaD BEeN LeanIng Against the wAll, tWIstiNg heR ApRon
ANd stuDying ThE enGLish girl with her hard, MaLiciouS eyes. 'oh! I
don't complaIn; there was A LETter for mE too. mOnSIeur has paid
all. but I rEgret for maDEmoisellE--if maDemoiselLe is surprISEd.'

She spoKe tO deAf eArs.

lOUiE pushed past heR, FLew dOwNstairs, And Rang the cerVinS' beLl
vIoLently. MadAme CerviN hErSeLf OpeNed thE Door, and tHe GirL
tHreW hersELf upon Her, drAggeD hEr INto The _saloN_, AnD THen
sAiD wIth tHe lOoK and tOne oF A fuRy:

'Read tHat!'

She helD ouT The cRuMbLed lettEr. Madame CerviN aDjusted her
SpEctAcles wITH shaking Hands.

'But it is in English!' shE Cried in DesPair.

LOuie Could not hAve Beaten Her FOr not uNderstAndinG. BUt, hERSelf
tREMbLinG wIth excitemENT, shE was fOrCed tO bring aLl the French
words shE KneW to bear, and betWeeN theM


The woman put it into he r hand.

' No on e c ame  b acklast  night,' she s a id w ith a shrug. 'Neithermonsi eu r  nor ma demoi selle;a nd t his  m or nin gI  r eceiv e o rders t o
send let ter sto "Barbizon ,  p res Fontai neb leau."'

Lou ietore o pe n h e r let ter . Itwas fr o m Davi d, and da te d  Barbi z on.
Hew o ul d be  there, it said,f or nearly a month . If s he co u l d w ait 
with Mada me  Cerv i n tillh eh i m sel f  could take h er home, we l l a nd
goo d.  Bu t  if th at we re dis agreeable t o he r, let he r comm u nicatew ith him  'chez  Ma dam e Py a t,  B arb iz o n,F on tai n ebl eau,' an dhe  woul d
wr i t e to D ora  Lom ax at  once, and ma kearra n gem entsfor h er t olodge 
there , til lhe returned toManc hester. S ome  o neco uld e a sily b e
f oun d to lo ok afte r  he ro n th e homeward journey  i f Ma dame Cer vin
to o khe r  to thetr ain . Me a n while  hee nc losed th e mone y  f or  two
we ek s' _pe ns ion _ a nd tw e ntyfrancs  for poc ket m o ney.

No other person was me n ti o n ed in t heletter, and  the writ er o f fe red neith er ex pl a na t ion nor excuses.

L ou ie cru shedthe sheet inher hand,w i t h an exc lama t io n , her
cheeks f lamin g.

'So th e y are am using  themsel ves at Fo n t aineblea u?'  in qui red M ad ame
Merichat, w ho h ad  been l ean ing aga ins t t hewal l,  twisting  her apr on 
a nd  s tud yingt he Engli sh  gi rl  wi th he r  hard,  mali ciou sey e s.'Oh! Id on ' t  com pl ai n; t her ewas a  let t erfor metoo. Mons ieu r  has  p ai d
all.But I regretfo r mademois el le- -if ma d e moiselle  is surprised.'

She sp o ke to d eaf  ears .

L ouie push edpast h er, flew d ownsta irs,an d r a n g the C er vin s'  bell
viol e n tly . Mad am e Ce rvin he rself opened the d o or,  and the girl 
th rewh e rs elf up o n h er ,  dr a g ged her into th e _salon_,  a n dthen
saidw ith  t he look  and to ne of a fury: 

'Read t hat!'

Sh eheld o utthe crumbl ed lette r. Madame Cervi n  a djust edher
sp ec tac les w ith sh a kin g han ds.

' Bu t it i s inEn glish!'she cried in despair.
Louiecould  no t have be ate n  he r for not  und erstanding . B ut,  hers elf tremb ling wi the xcite ment ,  she wasf or ced t obring all t h e Fre nch
w ord s  she k newto bear, and betw e en them


The woman_put it_into her hand.

'No one_came back_last_night,' she_said_with a shrug._'Neither
monsieur nor mademoiselle;_and this morning I_receive orders to
send_letters_to "Barbizon, pres Fontainebleau."'

Louie tore open her letter. It was from David, and dated_Barbizon.
He_would be_there,_it_said, for nearly a month._If she could wait
with Madame_Cervin till_he himself could take her home, well and
good._But_if that were_disagreeable to her, let her communicate
with him 'chez Madame_Pyat, Barbizon, Fontainebleau,' and he would
write_to Dora Lomax_at_once,_and make arrangements for_her to lodge
there, till he returned_to Manchester. Some one could easily_be
found to look after her on the_homeward journey if Madame Cervin
took her_to the train. Meanwhile he_enclosed the_money for two
weeks' _pension_ and_twenty francs for_pocket money.

No_other person was_mentioned in the letter, and the_writer offered
neither explanation_nor excuses.

Louie crushed the sheet in_her_hand, with an_exclamation,_her
cheeks_flaming.

'So they_are amusing themselves_at_Fontainebleau?' inquired_Madame
Merichat,_who had been leaning against the_wall,_twisting her apron
and studying the English girl_with her hard, malicious_eyes._'Oh! I
don't complain; there_was a letter for me_too. Monsieur has paid
all. But I_regret for_mademoiselle--if mademoiselle_is surprised.'

She spoke to deaf ears.

Louie pushed past her, flew downstairs,_and rang the Cervins' bell
violently. Madame_Cervin herself opened the_door, and_the_girl
threw herself upon_her,_dragged her_into the _salon_, and then
said with the_look and_tone of a fury:

'Read that!'

She held_out the crumbled letter._Madame_Cervin adjusted her
spectacles with shaking hands.

'But_it is in English!' she cried_in despair.

Louie could not have_beaten_her_for not understanding. But, herself
trembling_with excitement, she was forced to_bring all the_French
words she knew to bear, and between_them