s Sonya Valesky was
released from prison. But one could not tell whether the letter would
reach France as soon as the four travelers.

Nona felt that she would have given a great deal to have assured Sonya
of Eugenia's welcome, but she was nervous over the situation herself.

Of course, Eugenia would be kind to the exiled woman and offer her
hospitality and care. But Eugenia had rigid views of life and was not
given to concealing them. It was more than possible that she might let
Sonya know of her disapproval. Moreover, she might object to Nona's own
championship of Sonya and to her purpose to return with her to the
United States and there make their future home together.

Of course, no views of Eugenia's would interfere with this intention of
Nona's. But the younger girl would be sorry of Eugenia's disapproval,
since she too had learned to have the greatest affection and admiration
for the oldest of the four American Red Cross girls. However, there was
nothing to do except to wait and meet the situation when the time came.

Actually it was a month between the day of leaving Petrograd and the day
when the four travelers arrived in southern France in the neighborhood
of the Chateau d'Amelie. But this was because the girls and Sonya had
spent some little time in London before attempting to cross the channel.

London was a delightful experience for the three American Red Cross
girls. In some fashion the story of their varied service to the Allied
cause had reached the London newspapers. For several days there were
columns devoted to their praise. Later, invitations poured in upon them
from every direction. Mildred was most conspicuous, since the story of
her presentation by the Czar with the Cross of St. George was copied
from the Russian newspapers into the English, and must have ultimately
reached the United States press.

But the girls were not thinking of themselves or their work. They
simply gave themselves up to the pleasure of meeting delightful English
people and being entertained by them. Sonya would not go about with
them, but appeared stronger and more content, so there was no point in
worrying over her.

One of the English women, who was again gracious to the three American
girls, was the Countess of Sussex, at whose home they had spent a
week-end on their first arrival in England several years before. Once
more she invited them to her country home, but this time it was
impossible for the girls to accept