ng American
way she has. Perfectly ripping, I call it. I do hope we shall be
friends."

In a short time Paula came rushing back into the room, announcing
triumphantly that arrangements had been made according to her programme,
with the matron in hearty accord.

"And she sends her love," she said to the V. A. D. "She would not have
you on any account miss this party. She is desperately grieved that she
cannot accept my invitation to join us. Of course, I knew the old dear
couldn't. And we are to meet her afterwards."

The little lunch party was, on the whole, a success. To the conversation
Paula contributed the larger part, Barry doing his best to second her.
But in spite of his heroic efforts, his mind would escape him, far away
to the sunny Athabasca plains, and the gleaming river and the smooth
slipping canoe, and then with swift transition to the little British
plot in the cemetery at Boulogne.

At such times, Paula, reading his face, would momentarily falter in
her gay talk, only to begin again with renewed vivacity. On one topic,
however, she had no difficulty in holding Barry's attention. It was when
she told of the organising and despatching of the American Red Cross
units to France, and more especially of her own unit, organised and
financed by her father.

"I am awfully sorry he is not here to-day. He would have loved to have
seen you again, Barry."

"And I to have seen him," said Barry. "He is a big man, and it is
fine of him to do this thing. It's just like the big, generous-hearted
Americans--they are so unstinted in their sympathies, and they back them
up for all they are worth."

"And how efficient they are," added the V. A. D. in warm admiration.
"This hospital, you know," turning to Barry, "is perfectly wonderful.
Its equipment! Its appliances! I have often heard our O. C. speak in the
most rapturous envy of the Etaples American Red Cross unit."

"And why should not it be?" cried Paula. "It's a question of money after
all. We are not at war. We put in a few little hospitals here in France.
We have more money thrown at us than we can use. And you talk about
efficiency," she added, turning to the V. A. D. "Good Lord! My pater has
just come back from London, where he was rubbering around with lords and
dukes and things in a disgustingly un-American way I told him, and now
he raves from morning until night over the efficiency of the British.
He's been allowed to see some of their munition works, yo