first time I have offended you. However,
I feel compelled to speak the truth." Miss Patricia's tone remained
imperturbable.

"But that is just the trouble, Aunt Patricia, you are not speaking the
truth, although of course I know you don't realize it and I beg your
pardon," Mrs. Burton argued. "But why do you allow yourself to acquire
such prejudices and such foolish impressions? I simply refuse to discuss
the suggestion you have just made. Please never speak of it to me
again."

Ordinarily when the celebrated Mrs. Burton assumed an air of offended
dignity such as she wore at present her world was apt to sue for pardon.
Miss Patricia revealed no such intention. As a matter of fact, as she
remained resolutely silent and as Mrs. Burton had not yet explained the
reason for her visit, it was she who had to resume the conversation in a
conciliatory manner.

"I presume you won't approve then, Aunt Patricia, of what I wish to
speak to you. Monsieur Duval has been ordered to southern France on some
work for his government and has asked Mrs. Bishop and me to accompany
him, because it is work in which he thinks we may be useful. You know
the Germans have been sending back some of the French refugees whom they
drove before them in their retreat. There are groups of five hundred at
a time who now and then are sent over the border either from Germany or
Switzerland. They are penniless and not only have no money or food or
clothes; they do not know whether their families are living or dead and
in any case have no way to reach them. The French government is to try
to arrange some plan by which homes may be secured for these unfortunate
people until they can communicate with their relatives or friends."

"An excellent idea, but I do not exactly see your connection with it,"
Miss Patricia returned.

Mrs. Burton shrugged her shoulders impatiently. In all her life she
never remembered any one who had opposed her desires in exactly the same
fashion Miss Patricia did. Then, a little ashamed of herself, she
answered gently but firmly:

"My connection is that I am interested and that Mrs. Bishop and I have
both decided to accompany Monsieur Duval. It is barely possible that we
may be useful and able to offer a certain amount of advice. So many of
the refugees are young women who have suffered impossible things and may
require special care and shelter. Besides, I am very deeply anxious to
see more of the country. We expect to travel sou