a,"
she answered in conclusion; "but we can attend to them in the morning
and then say good-by to the Countess."

Nona was lying upon a divan with her yellow head sunk among a number of
brown cushions, but she got half way up at Barbara's words.

"But I don't expect _you_ to leave here, Barbara dear, to go with
me," she protested. "I didn't engage board for anyone else. The house
where I am to stay is shabby and not especially comfortable. I wouldn't
have you leave this lovely home for worlds! I am sorry, you may be a
little lonely without me. But I am hoping we may hear from Mildred at
almost any hour and then I'm sure the Countess would be only too happy
to have her take my place here. I expect Mildred will be a distinguished
character after having been chosen to nurse the great General Alexis."

"Don't talk nonsense," Barbara protested, in answer to the first part of
her friend's speech. "Of course, I am not going to let you wander off
and live in a strange family by yourself." Then Barbara sighed.

She was sitting on a small stool beside Nona's couch, resting her chin
on her hand and looking very childish and homesick.

"Of course, I know you have to do whatever you can for Sonya Valesky,
Nona," she agreed unexpectedly. "In your position I hope I would have
the courage to behave in the same way. I have only made a fuss about
things because I was worried for you, but I have always known you would
not pay any attention to me. Nobody ever does."

Although Nona laughed and attempted to argue this point, Barbara
remained unconvinced.

"Oh, well, possibly Dick or Eugenia can sometimes be persuaded into
doing what I ask, but never you or Mildred," she concluded, and then
sighed again. "If we could hear just a single word from Mildred!"

The next day the two girls moved to their new lodgings. Their hostess
was gracious enough, but made no protest when Nona explained that she
expected to be permitted to visit the Russian prisoner within the next
few days.

The order to see Sonya came sooner than Nona expected. Indeed, the two
girls had only been in their new quarters for about thirty-six hours
when the young secretary from the embassy called upon them. With him he
brought the permit from the Russian government.

Nona was to be allowed to visit the prison near the Troitska bridge on
the following day and to spend ten minutes with her friend. She must
understand that a guard would listen to whatever conversation was