as excessively annoyed over a piece of
information she had just received, so it was unfortunate that Sally
should return at a moment when she must bear the brunt of it.

Moving a little listlessly up the broad uncarpeted stairs toward the
bedroom she shared with her sister, the girl scarcely noticed the older
woman's presence. She was hoping that Alice had not yet returned and
that she might have a few moments to herself.

Miss Patricia opened the attack with her usual vigor.

"What do you mean, Sally, by going off this afternoon, knowing that I
particularly needed your help? You must understand that it is highly
improper for a young girl to tramp about over this French country alone.
Even if Polly Burton has permitted you Camp Fire girls the most
extraordinary amount of freedom, she surely has realized this and warned
you against such indiscretion. There is no way of guessing into what
difficulty you may have already managed to entangle yourself!"

Sally felt herself flushing until her clear skin was suffused with
glowing color.

"I am sorry, Miss Patricia," she said, "but remember that I am not a
child and cannot have you speak to me as if I were a disobedient one. I
have been for a walk and----"

But fortunately Sally was not required to complete her sentence.
Suddenly Mrs. Burton had appeared out of her bedroom and began to hurry
downstairs.

"Sally!" she called with a suggestion of appeal in her voice. "The
excitement over your disappearance is my fault, so please don't you and
Aunt Patricia quarrel. A little while ago when I returned home and Mere
'Toinette told me that you had gone out alone and she did not know in
what direction, why, I became uneasy. You will not again, will you?
Really I am afraid it is not safe for you children, although with me of
course the case is different. Aunt Patricia is not disposed to think so,
forgetting my advanced age. Still, Sally, no matter how enthusiastic we
may feel over our work here in the shell-torn area of France, we must
remember these are war times when one never knows what may happen next.
Besides, the French do not always understand our American ideas of
liberty for young girls."

By this time having reached the foot of the stairs, Mrs. Burton slipped
her hand inside Sally's, glancing back with a slightly amused and
slightly apologetic expression toward Miss Patricia.

"Really, Aunt Patricia, I do regret your being so annoyed, yet you must
not take my news