"I too wish to go, but hardly care to
undertake the journey alone. May I then come with you and help you with
the little ones?"

The Italian's quick mind grasped the idea at once; and she foresaw with
delighted gratitude that the journey might be shorn of half its terrors
if the plan were carried out.

She poured forth a stream of voluble explanations. She had already taken
the tickets for the party; and she was certain that her employer, a
wealthy English lady, would be only too grateful if the Signorina would
accept the fare in return for her help in the matter. A carriage had
been reserved for the party, and the whole journey might be taken in
complete comfort and security, since this so fortunate meeting with a
compatriot.

To Toni the idea came as a veritable boon. In her turn, she saw all the
personal benefits of the plan; and, after all, since she could be of
real, practical assistance, she saw no reason why she should scruple to
avail herself of the Italian nurse's offer.

Five minutes later the affair was arranged. The foreigner, Luisa by
name, was at first incredulous on hearing of her new comrade's mixed
nationality, but she readily accepted such explanations as Toni gave
her, and was quick to recognize the value of Toni's perfect English at
the present juncture.

Toni's lack of luggage puzzled her a little, but Toni murmured something
about a lost dressing-bag which satisfied the other woman; and when the
long train steamed out of the station at last Toni was comfortably
ensconced in a reserved first-class compartment, making friends with the
two little girls with whom she was to travel.

This fact explains the non-success of all inquiries at the railway
stations, or, later, on the boat. The authorities were on the look-out
for a young Englishwoman journeying alone; and never associated the
young Italian lady travelling, apparently, with her two children and a
nurse, with the solitary girl for whom they searched.

Toni's fur coat was by no means a unique garment. There were plenty to
be seen at this time of year; and in any case the girl, protected by her
unassailable bodyguard, was able to pass under the eyes of the very men
who were anxiously on the look-out for her.

The journey to which Luisa had looked forward with such apprehension
passed off well enough. Toni was obliged to rouse herself from her own
dejection to look after the children, who were both delicate and spoilt;
but luckily they t