ment to her accidental acquaintance.

Some curious feminine force must have moved Sally Ashton on this
occasion. Most women find it difficult to allow a human being to endure
physical suffering, once the person is delivered into their care.

As she made her way to the chateau for the second time Sally loathed the
cold dark morning and there was no beauty nor significance to her in the
gray leaden sky which lay like a mourning veil over the sad French
landscape.

Sally considered that she was engaged in an almost unjustifiable action.
Yet she could not make up her mind to leave the soldier to starve, or to
betray his presence in the chateau.

Moreover, Sally was haunted by a small nervous fear, which may have been
out of place in the face of the larger issues which were involved. As
the soldier in hiding had no reason to believe she would arrive so early
in the morning, he might still be asleep. Sally disliked the idea that
thus she might be called upon to awaken him. The conventions of life
were dear to her, she had a real appreciation of their value and place
in social life and no desire to break with any one of them.

The food could be left in the dismantled old drawing-room, under its
arch of leaning walls, but Sally wished to leave a command as well as
the food. After this one unhappy pilgrimage she would do nothing more
for the soldier's safety and comfort. He must take his chances and slip
away.

The entire neighborhood was disturbingly quiet. An owl of late habits
would have been almost companionable. Upon one point Sally considered
herself inflexible. She would not enter the chateau; she might call
softly from the outside if it were necessary. If no one replied she
would return to the farm and nevermore would the chateau be honored by
her presence.

In an entirely different state of mind she approached the old house on
this second occasion and made her way to the opening between the walls.

Inside there seemed an even more uncanny silence. Yet how could one call
to an utter stranger whose name, whose identity, whose nationality were
all unknown?

"Halloo!" Sally cried in a faint voice, not once but three or four
times.

There was no reply.

She called again. Then she entered the drawing-room quickly with no
other idea than to put down her offerings and flee away as soon as
possible. Sally was possessed of the impression that, however long the
wrecked walls might remain in position while she was out