and
silkworms she lacked the supply of cheap coolie labor in which the
Orient abounded. Now the producing of raw silk is left to China, Bengal,
the Coromandel coast, India, France, Italy, and Turkey. Bengal proves an
ideal silk-raising country, for because of the climate there are yearly
three crops of cocoons--one in March, one in July, and one in November.
Some of the other countries have two crops; others only one."

"And France?" put in Pierre.

"Ah, Pierre, there should be no need for me to tell you, a French boy,
of your own land. The growing of our silk, as you know, is done in our
southern provinces; while its manufacture takes place in our great
northern cities. Marseilles is the big market for raw silk, and Lyons
the centre for the manufactured fabric. Meanwhile England has come to
excel in silk manufacture and she now excludes our French made goods
whenever she can that her people may patronize their own makers, who get
their silk from the English colonies. And it is in this great and
wonderful story of silk-making that you and Marie are now to have a
share," concluded Father Benedict. "May you and your good mother be
successful in a work that has brought to our beloved France much of her
prosperity."

There was a moment of silence.

Then Madame Bretton came to the door.

"Supper is ready, Father, and I beg you come in quickly--for while you
have been talking I have made you a tea cake!"

The venerable priest smiled with pleasure, and with a child clinging to
each of his hands he passed into the tiny cottage.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER IV

A SUPPER PARTY

The interior of the Bretton home was extremely simple; and simple, too,
was the supper laid out upon the sand-scoured table. In war time even
the more well-to-do families were living on the plainest of rations,
that all the food which could possibly be spared should be sent to the
men on the fighting lines. There was no sugar, little salt, a scant
quantity of flour, and no meat to be had in the village. Still no one
complained. Was not each serving his country by denying himself those
things which, after all, could easily be done without? Healthy boys and
girls were as well off--nay, better--without cakes and candies, the
grown-ups said; and even the children themselves had come to admit this.

Therefore the little group ate without comment their frugal meal,
thankful that their food was as plenty as it was. The kind old priest,
like his