" she explained. "He found he
could get a three days leave to come with me. Of course, I wished to
rush off to the farmhouse before I even got my traveling things off. But
since I am a much managed woman these days, I was made to wait until you
came here. I have been expecting you every minute. Now tell me about
Nona and Madame Valesky."

This time it was Barbara who laughed. The idea of Eugenia's being
managed instead of managing other people was amusing. Besides, it was
unlike her to talk so fast and ask so many questions without giving one
time to reply.

So Barbara only held closer to her friend's hand and looked at her,
leaving Mildred the opportunity for answering.

It was still early in the afternoon and the sunshine flooded the
beautiful drawing room. It was strange to see how at home Eugenia seemed
to look and feel in it, when a little more than a year before she and
the old room had been so antagonistic.

Eugenia had changed. In the first place, she wore this afternoon a
lovely costume of violet crepe, trimmed in old gold brocade. It was a
costume that must have been specially designed for Eugenia, so perfectly
did it suit her rather stately beauty and dark, clear coloring. This
turned out to be true, since Eugenia a short time before had discovered
a little French dressmaker, whom the war had rendered penniless, and
given her work to do.

Now, even while Mildred was talking of Nona and Sonya, the drawing room
door opened and Captain Castaigne and his mother came in.

Monsieur Le Duc accompanied them, but promptly deserted his former
master and mistress and padded over to Eugenia, placing his great silver
head on her lap and gazing at her with adoration.

Captain Castaigne and his mother followed to greet their guests. In his
hand the young officer carried a number of letters which he gave at once
to Barbara and Mildred.

"These just arrived at the chateau for you; they are American letters
and so I am sure you will be pleased."

Mildred's were from her mother and father and Barbara had received three
from Dick in this same mail, and another which looked as if it might be
the long-expected letter from Mrs. Thornton.

After ten minutes of conversation, it was Captain Castaigne who proposed
that their guests might be allowed to read their letters without waiting
to return home. It was not difficult to guess at their impatience, since
it must have been a long time since they had heard from home.

Th