untess was no longer young, and still had no servants save old
Francois. The work of entertaining four guests, and one of them a
stranger, would have put too great a tax upon her. Moreover, Eugenia
would undoubtedly come back for a while to be with her friends and
would naturally stay with her mother-in-law. The girls also hoped that
Captain Castaigne might be spared for a short leave of absence. However,
in order that the Countess Amelie should not be wounded, or feel that
the girls no longer cared to be with her, Barbara had written to say
that she would stay at the chateau whenever the Countess wished her
society.

Certainly the trip from Russia into France during war times was a
difficult one. The girls believed that they could not have made it,
except that now and then they stopped for a day or more to rest. On
these days Barbara and Nona used to spend at least a few hours in
sightseeing, no matter what their fatigue. Now and then Mildred would go
with them, but never Sonya. Occasionally Nona would urge her, saying
that the exercise and change of atmosphere would be good for her. But
Sonya used always to plead fatigue or a lack of interest. Finally she
confessed frankly that she had seen most of these cities and countries
before, and in some of them was fairly well known. Therefore it might
be safer and happier for all of them if she remained quietly in whatever
hotel they happened to be staying.

Yet Sonya appeared almost as anxious as her three companions to reach
France and the "Farmhouse with the Blue Front Door." This, of course,
was because the three girls had talked of it so continuously and the
longed for meeting with Eugenia again. For somehow, although the
farmhouse was in a war-stained country, its name suggested quiet and a
brooding peace.

Nevertheless, several times, after mentioning Eugenia's name, Nona had
observed Sonya's face flush and the expression of her eyes become almost
apologetic. At first she was unable to understand this and then she
remembered.

In the early days Eugenia had not liked their friendship with the woman
who was then calling herself Lady Dorian. Indeed, in Eugenia fashion she
had frankly stated this fact to the older woman. Now how much less might
she care for their intimacy with the exiled Russian. Yet Sonya was
going as an uninvited guest to Eugenia's home.

There had been no time to ask permission. It was true Barbara had
written the entire story to Eugenia as soon a