n as a
real, genuine fellow like Oliver came along, Peggy's heart flew out to
him like needle to magnet. Even had he been of Oliver's Paladin mould,
what right had he to expect Jeanne to give him all the wonder of
herself after a four days' acquaintance? Being what he was, just
little Doggie Trevor, the assumption was an impertinence. She had
sheltered herself from it behind a barrier of silence.

A girl, a thing of low-cut blouse, truncated skirts and cheap silk
stockings, who had been leaning unnoticed for some time on the rails
by his side, spoke.

"You seem to be pretty lonely."

Doggie swerved round. "Yes, I am, darned lonely."

"Come for a walk, or take me to the pictures."

"And then?" asked Doggie, swinging to his feet.

"If we get on all right, we can fix up something for to-morrow."

She was pretty, with a fair, frizzy, insolent prettiness. She might
have been any age from fourteen to four-and-twenty.

Doggie smiled, tempted to while away a dark hour. But he said,
honestly:

"I'm afraid I should be a dull companion."

"What's the matter?" she laughed. "Lost your best girl?"

"Something like it." He waved a hand across the sea. "Over there."

"French? Oh!" She drew herself up. "Aren't English girls good enough
for you?"

"When they're sympathetic, they're delightful," said he.

"Oh, you make me tired! Good-bye," she snapped, and stalked away.

After a few yards she glanced over her shoulder to see whether he was
following. But Doggie remained by the railings.

Presently he shrugged his shoulders and went off to a picture palace
by himself and thought wistfully of Jeanne.

* * * * *

And Jeanne? Well, Jeanne was no longer at Frelus; for there came a
morning when Aunt Morin was found dead in her bed. The old doctor came
and spread out his thin hands and said "_Eh bien_" and "_Que
voulez-vous?_" and "It was bound to happen sooner or later," and
murmured learned words. The old cure came and a neighbour or two, and
candles were put round the coffin and the _pompes funebres_ draped
the front steps and entrance and vestibule in heavy black. And as soon
as was possible Aunt Morin was laid to rest in the little cemetery
adjoining the church, and Jeanne went back to the house with Toinette,
alone in the wide world. And because there had been a death in the
place the billeted soldiers went about the courtyard very quietly.

Since Phineas and Mo and Doggie's regiment h