her. There were many
subjects in which they were both interested, although of course the war
absorbed the greater part of their thought.

"I only hope France may prove worthy of the sympathy and aid your
country pours out upon her so generously. But I think when you reach
France you will have no reason to complain of her lack of gratitude,"
the Frenchman answered.

"Of course our cause at present is a common one and our soldiers are
fighting as brothers. But long before your men fought with ours, you
American women were rendering us every possible service. Please be sure
if I can be of the least assistance to you in making your plans for work
in France I shall be more than happy. In spite of all our conversations
you never have told me definitely what it is you intend doing."

Mrs. Burton smiled. A cool breeze was blowing in from the sea so that
she hid herself closer inside her rug.

"Just a moment then, Monsieur Duval, I will talk of our plans and then
we must discuss something frivolous. Every morning as I waken I make up
my mind not to speak of the war for at least a few hours, but somehow I
never manage to keep my promise to myself. We intend undertaking a
certain amount of reclamation work in one of the ruined French villages.
Our present scheme is first to find an old farm house and establish
ourselves there in order to make a home where our neighbors can come to
us as they will. My Camp Fire girls thus hope to form friendships with
the French girls and later to induce them to become interested in our
Camp Fire ideas.

"You may be amused, Monsieur Duval, but another thing we intend is to
teach the French women and girls to make corn bread, so as to help in
the wheat conservation. I was told by a woman in Washington, who had
just come back from the devastated regions, that this would be a real
service to France, if once we could persuade the French people to our
use of corn. The Indians taught us. As our Camp Fire is more or less
modeled upon their institutions, we hope to carry on the Indian message
of the corn. But enough of this; you have been kind to listen to me so
long."

Monsieur Duval shook his head courteously.

"What you say is interesting and worth while, Madame, but I have an idea
that you need not personally give all of your own time to these efforts.
These matters your companions and other women may be able to accomplish
with equal success. But you, you probably will find more important work