have created a scene and to
have given so much trouble, when everybody has been so kind."

Then the girl began to cry again, but softly as if her desire for tears
was nearly spent.

Without replying Mrs. Burton took her former position.

Occasionally she had a moment of thinking that perhaps after her years
of experience as a Camp Fire guardian she was beginning to understand
something of the utterly unlike temperaments of varying types of girls.
Moreover, in spite of Aunt Patricia's judgment, her work had afforded
her unusual opportunities for the study of human nature.

Now, as she sat silently watching the young French girl in her effort to
regain her self-control, Mrs. Burton realized that hers would be no
ordinary story. Her friend had chosen to protect her by stating that she
was suffering from an attack of nerves, yet this instant the girl was
making an intense effort to gain a fresh hold upon herself both mentally
and physically.

"I am sorry," she repeated a moment later, "for I realize now I should
never have made the attempt to return home to France, although I thought
after nearly three years in the United States surely I had the courage!
Still, for the past few days I have been becoming more and more
convinced that I was going to fail, that I had not the strength for the
work ahead of me. What you were told just now, that I had merely
fainted, was not true. I had made up my mind that since I was not going
to be able to be of service to my country I would not add to her burden.
I could not do that; there had to be some way out, and I _had_ to
find the way."

Sitting up, Yvonne now leaned forward, resting her small head with its
heavy weight of fair hair upon her hands, clasped under her chin. She
was not looking at her companion. Her eyes held an expression which
betrays an inner vision.

"I did make an effort to do what you suspect. I wonder if I was wrong?
Certainly I was unsuccessful, since I do not even feel ill in
consequence. I suppose I ought to explain that I had written a note to
apologize for the mistake I had made in urging the Red Cross unit to
bring me with them to France and to say I regretted the distress and
trouble I must give. Then as I was carrying the letter to the room of
the friend whom you found here with me I think I must have fainted. She
was shocked and angry when she learned what I had attempted to do and I
have given my word I will not try again." Yvonne was silent for a m