and chain such a _very_ short time, and I was so afraid he'd take
them."

"And how do you know that they will be any safer with me?" he asked,
with a wicked twinkle in his eyes.

"Because I saw you were an Englishman, of course," she rejoined calmly.

The young man laughed.

"Pardon me, you are wrong, for I am an American."

Barbara's cheeks could hardly grow more flushed, but she felt
uncomfortably hot.

"I am so sorry," she stammered, getting up hurriedly; "I really thought
it was an Englishman, and felt--at home, you know."

"Please continue to think so if it makes you any happier; and--I think
you had better stay a little longer before going on--the fellow might
be waiting farther down the road."

Barbara subsided again. She had no desire to have any further
encounter with the French cyclist.

Meanwhile, the stranger had taken one or two rapid glances at her, and
the surprise on his face grew. "Where are the rest of the party?" he
asked presently.

"The rest of the party has gone on by train," and Barbara laughed.
"Poor party, it would be so horribly alarmed if it could see me now. I
always seem to be alarming it."

"I don't wonder, if it is always as careless as on the present
occasion. Whatever possessed he, she, or it, to let you come along by
yourself like this? It was most culpably careless."

"Oh, no, indeed. It is what I have been begging for since I came to
Brittany--indeed it is. She gave me _most_ careful directions as to
what turnings to take"--and Barbara repeated them merrily--"it was only
that I was silly enough to take the wrong one. And now I really must
be getting on, or poor Mademoiselle Therese will be distracted.
Please, does this road lead to Dol?"

"Dol?" he repeated quickly. "Yes, certainly. I am just going there,
and--and intend to pass the night in the place. I'm on a walking tour,
and--if you don't mind walking--I know there's a short cut that would
be almost as quick as cycling; the high road is a good distance off
yet."

Barbara hesitated. The fear of meeting any more tramps was strong upon
her, and her present companion had a frank, honest face, and steady
gray eyes.

"I don't want Mademoiselle Therese to be frightened by being any later
than necessary," she said doubtfully.

"I really think this will be as quick as the other road--if you will
trust me," he returned. And Barbara yielded.

It certainly was a very pretty way, leading across the fields a