But really Barbara was not so foolish as to
resent these conditions; she was merely homesick and anxious to see Dick
Thornton, and if not Dick, then Eugenia.

France had not seemed so far away from the United States and she had
loved France and its brave, gay people. She had understood them and
their life. Almost she had envied Eugenia her future possession of the
old chateau and the little "Farmhouse with the Blue Front Door." But
then Eugenia had seemed to find France as strange and uncongenial as
Barbara now considered Russia.

Even after her marriage to Captain Castaigne, Eugenia had confessed to
the younger girl how she dreaded her own inability to become a
Frenchwoman. She still feared that she would never be equal to the
things Captain Castaigne had a right to expect of her, once the war was
over. Eugenia had merely cared too much to be willing to give him up,
but was too wise to expect that her problems would end with marriage.

So with this thought Barbara Meade finally removed a tear from the end
of her nose. It had trickled quite comfortably out of her eyes, but as
her nose was somewhat retrousse, it had hesitated there.

After all, an American marriage was best for an American girl! Barbara
tried to convince herself that she should be rejoicing instead of
lamenting. Certainly Dick was the most agreeable and to be desired
person in the entire world. But then there was another side to this!
Had he not been, perhaps she would not at this moment be missing him
so terribly and at all the moments. Letters were so infrequent!
Mrs. Thornton might positively refuse to allow her son to marry
so insignificant a person, and Dick forget all about her!

But in the midst of this last and most harrowing thought, fortunately
Nona Davis came into the room.

She looked excited, but on catching sight of her friend's face her
expression changed.

"Good heavens, Barbara!" she began. Then the next moment she walked over
and tilted the other girl's chin with her hand.

"You are just homesick, aren't you, and longing for some one who shall
be nameless? You frightened me at first; I feared you had heard dreadful
news. Come, get your coat and have a walk with me. We have both nearly
two hours of freedom and I've permission to go outside the
fortifications."

The other girl shook her head and shivered.

"It is too cold, Nona dear, and besides, I'm afraid. I know the Russians
are said to be holding the line of fortifications