t at the beginning of the war all her people were killed and
her home in France destroyed, so that she is now entirely alone. She was
living with friends in the United States, but suddenly decided that she
wished to return to France. Unexpectedly she must have lost her courage.
However, all Vera and I really know it what one of the other Red Cross
girls told us, asking us to tell no one else."

By the end of Bettina's speech, Mrs. Burton and the two girls had left
the deck, and Vera was leading the way down one of the narrow corridors
bordered on either side by small state-rooms.

At the door of one of the rooms a woman in the uniform of a Red Cross
nurse, after making a little motion to command silence, stepped quietly
out.

"There is nothing serious the matter, Mrs. Burton. It was hardly worth
while to disturb you. At present the young French girl who was crossing
with us to her former home is suffering from an attack of hysteria. As I
have not been able to quiet her and as you are here, perhaps you will
come and see what you can do."

Then she turned to Vera and Bettina.

"If there is any other story of what has occurred being told on board
ship, will you please do your best to contradict it? A ship is a
hopeless place for gossip. However, I am afraid Yvonne will scarcely be
fit for the work our Red Cross unit expects to undertake. I must find
some one to befriend the child after we reach Paris."

Bettina and Vera moved away, followed by the older woman.

At the same instant Mrs. Burton, entering the half open door of the
state-room, discovered a young girl of about seventeen or eighteen, with
large brown eyes and fair hair, lying huddled on the bed. She was not
crying, yet instantly put up her hands before her face as if to escape
observation.

Mrs. Burton sat down on the edge of the berth beside her.

CHAPTER V

THE CONFESSION

"Don't talk if you prefer not; perhaps you may be able to sleep after a
little if I sit here beside you," Mrs. Burton said gently.

"But I would prefer to be alone," the young French girl answered,
speaking English with a pretty foreign accent.

Instantly Mrs. Burton rose, intending to leave the tiny state-room;
however, having gone but a few steps she heard the he same voice plead:

"No, please don't leave me. I have been watching you and your friends
ever since our ship sailed, and as I must talk to some one, I wish it to
be you. If you only knew how sorry I am to