most distinguished among the travelers were several returning Frenchmen
who had been in the United States upon a special mission.

CHAPTER IV

CHAPERONING THE CHAPERON

One afternoon about midway in the voyage across the Atlantic, Mrs.
Burton was seated upon the upper deck in her steamer chair enveloped in
a fur rug and a fur coat. A small sealskin turban completely covered her
hair, so only her face was revealed, her brilliant blue eyes, long
slender nose and chin, and her cheeks upon which two spots of color were
glowing.

She was talking in French with a great deal of animation to a man who
sat beside her. From his manner and appearance and also from his
pronunciation it was self-evident that he was a Frenchman. Moreover, he
revealed a certain intellectual distinction typically French. Monsieur
Georges Duval was of middle age with clear-cut, aristocratic features,
keen dark eyes and iron-gray hair. In comparison with him Mrs. Burton
looked like a girl.

It was just before tea time and the deck was crowded with the ship's
passengers. Since no lights were permitted after dark, it was necessary
to enjoy all the daylight possible out of doors. This afternoon was
clear and lovely, with a serene blue sky and sea.

A number of the Camp Fire girls were strolling about talking to new
acquaintances. But if Mrs. Burton had any knowledge of their presence
she gave no sign, being too deeply interested in her conversation with
her present companion.

"You are extremely kind, Monsieur, and I am most happy to receive any
advice you can give me. Later on I shall probably ask for your aid as
well. Now and then I have wondered if in coming to France to offer our
services to your country many American women may not prove more of a
burden than a help. I hope this may not be true of me or of my
companions. We intend to settle down somewhere in one of the devastated
districts and do whatever we can to be useful. But chiefly the group of
girls I have with me want to offer their services to French girls. I
have so often thought, Monsieur, that perhaps the greatest problem of
the future rests with the young girls of the present day. When the war
is over it will be their task to care for the wounded men and for many
others whom these long years of warfare will have made unfit for work.
More than this, there will be so many of these girls who can never have
husbands or children. Our Camp Fire organization in the United States