arbara thought she had never appreciated it more. She
tried to explain the reason of their late arrival, and told some of
their adventures; but, although both the French girls listened politely
and smiled and nodded, Barbara thought that neither of them understood
much of what she said. However, she did not mind that, and presently
they led the way upstairs to a room that was a haven of delight to the
wanderers. The windows opened on to a garden whence the scent of lilac
floated, and the whole room--down to the hearth-brush, which charmed
Barbara--was decorated in blue.

With the memory of that other Rue St. Sulpice still fresh in their
minds, their present quarters indeed seemed delightful; and Barbara
declared she could have fallen upon the necks of both girls and kissed
them.

"A quite unnecessary and most impertinent proceeding," Aunt Anne
replied curtly. "They will much prefer pounds, shillings, and pence to
embraces," and Barbara thought that after all she was probably right.

CHAPTER III.

A NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE.

It was very nice to waken the next morning and find the sunshine
streaming in at the windows.

Barbara was ready to be charmed with everything, from the pretty little
maid in the mob cap, who carried in the breakfast, to the crisp rolls
and coffee. Both of the travellers were quite rested, and eager to
begin sight-seeing, and Miss Britton left the choice of place to her
niece. The latter diligently scanned the guide-book as she took her
breakfast, and kept calling out fresh suggestions every few moments;
but, finally, they determined on the Louvre as most worthy of their
first visit.

I do not know whether it was the experience of the night before, but
Aunt Anne seemed to have a fixed idea that Paris was full of thieves,
and before starting out she made the most careful preparations for
encountering pickpockets. She sewed some of her money into a little
bag inside her dress, put some more into a pocket in her underskirt,
and said that Barbara might pay for things in general, as it would
teach her the use of French money. She herself kept only a few
centimes in a shabby purse in her dress pocket, "to disappoint any
thief who took it."

As soon as the _fiacre_ stopped in the court of the Louvre, they were
besieged by several disreputable and seedy-looking men wanting to act
as guides through the galleries. Partly to get rid of the rest, partly
because they thought it might be easi