she was older than she looked.

"I will send a servant with a message to your people after you have
finished your repast," she said.

"But the rain?" Lucile began.

"Ah, that is nothing," said the girl, shrugging her shoulders, as if
dismissing the subject. "She is well used to it."

Although Lucile's excitement and curiosity were fast reaching fever heat,
she tried to control herself and to answer Jeanette calmly and sanely.

A few moments later a delicious meal was spread before her, to which she
did full justice, feeling by this time on the verge of starvation.

When she had finished, Lucile expressed her curiosity and admiration for
the old place and Jeanette suggested that they look about--provided her
guest was not too tired. Lucile replied that she felt as if the word
"tired" had never been in her vocabulary--which was literally true.

At the end of a fascinating tour of inspection, during which Lucile had
started many times to put pointed questions to Jeanette and stopped just
in time, Jeanette paused at the foot of a winding staircase.

She ascended a step or two; then, looking down upon her guest, said,
wistfully, "I am so glad you came! I have so little company and seeing
you has been like--ah, like a cup of water to one dying of thirst," and
underneath the little laugh that followed Lucile fancied she detected an
infinite sadness.

Her warm young heart went out to the other girl, as she said, heartily,
"Then I'm very glad I mistook the path this morning, since it has given
me a chance to know you. But why don't you ever see anybody?" she added.
"Aren't there any girls around here?"

"Oh, yes, there are some--but it is so long a story, I would not bore you
with it. Come, we will go upstairs!" And, though Lucile was dying to hear
more, she wisely forbore to press the point.

While they were looking about them happily there was the sound of wheels
on the drive and Jeanette, rushing to the window, exclaimed, "There's
Pierre at this minute. Mam'selle will pardon if I speak with him a
moment?" and for the second time that day Lucile was left alone in this
house of romance and mystery.

"She won't mind if I look around by myself," and so she began to explore
in earnest. She was tremendously excited.

"They say these old chateaux are full of secret passages, but I'd never
have the luck to find any. Oh, I'm afraid the girls won't believe me when
I tell them about it--and I won't blame them much if they