rom the barn.

"Simeon, can you tell what she wants?"

At sight of the newcomer on the scene, the strange woman began again,
with even more volubility.

"No," said Simeon Holly, after a moment's scowling scrutiny of the
gesticulating woman. "She's talking French, I think. And she
wants--something."

"Gosh! I should say she did," muttered Perry Larson. "An' whatever 't
is, she wants it powerful bad."

"Are you hungry?" questioned Mrs. Holly timidly.

"Can't you speak English at all?" demanded Simeon Holly.

The woman looked from one to the other with the piteous, pleading eyes
of the stranger in the strange land who cannot understand or make
others understand. She had turned away with a despairing shake of her
head, when suddenly she gave a wild cry of joy and wheeled about, her
whole face alight.

The Hollys and Perry Larson saw then that David had come out onto the
porch and was speaking to the woman--and his words were just as
unintelligible as the woman's had been.

Mrs. Holly and Perry Larson stared. Simeon Holly interrupted David with
a sharp:--

"Do you, then, understand this woman, boy?"

"Why, yes! Didn't you? She's lost her way, and--" But the woman had
hurried forward and was pouring her story into David's ears.

At its conclusion David turned to find the look of stupefaction still
on the others' faces.

"Well, what does she want?" asked Simeon Holly crisply.

"She wants to find the way to Francois Lavelle's house. He's her
husband's brother. She came in on the train this morning. Her husband
stopped off a minute somewhere, she says, and got left behind. He could
talk English, but she can't. She's only been in this country a week.
She came from France."

"Gorry! Won't ye listen ter that, now?" cried Perry Larson admiringly.
"Reads her just like a book, don't he? There's a French family over in
West Hinsdale--two of 'em, I think. What'll ye bet 't ain't one o'
them?"

"Very likely," acceded Simeon Holly, his eyes bent disapprovingly on
David's face. It was plain to be seen that Simeon Holly's attention was
occupied by David, not the woman.

"An', say, Mr. Holly," resumed Perry Larson, a little excitedly, "you
know I was goin' over ter West Hinsdale in a day or two ter see Harlow
about them steers. Why can't I go this afternoon an' tote her an' the
kid along?"

"Very well," nodded Simeon Holly curtly, his eyes still on David's face.

Perry Larson turned to the woman, and by a flourish o