Burton was glad to remember that, although Aunt Patricia
certainly was not regarding her with affection at the moment,
nevertheless, she slipped her arm about the elderly lady's hard and
upright shoulders.

"You are a dear, Aunt Patricia! But please don't worry. We are not going
into any dangerous neighborhoods. The drive will not begin for many
weeks. In any case there will be no retreat. Yet indeed we mean to take
every possible precaution and at no time will we be near the German
line. It is good of you to think I am worth worrying over, but this time
it is not necessary."

"Have you your husband's permission for this trip, Polly? I presume you
have written Richard Burton of your new French friend?" Aunt Patricia
demanded as a last forlorn hope.

In reply Mrs. Burton smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I have done both of those things. I wrote Richard about Monsieur
Duval soon after our meeting on shipboard. But of course I have had no
reply to my letter with regard to my trip south with Mrs. Bishop and
Monsieur Duval, for there is not time for me to hear before we leave."

"And nothing will change your decision, Polly?"

Mrs. Burton had slid down on to the floor from the high old bed and now
stood before Miss Patricia, hesitating for the fraction of a second.

"I do wish you would not put the question in such a way, Aunt Patricia.
You make me think of what Sally Ashton said to you, as if I too were a
disobedient child, and I am more than twice Sally's age. Of course I do
not wish to do anything you oppose, but the trip to southern France and
the work I hope to be able to accomplish will be a great opportunity and
a great experience. I hope you will make up your mind to feel as I do
before we start the day after tomorrow."

Before Aunt Patricia could reply, Mrs. Burton made a hasty and carefully
designed retreat. Being fully cognizant that there was no possibility of
Miss Patricia's relenting, she wished to pretend to believe she might
change her mind and at the same time to announce the proposed time for
her own departure.

Fortunately for Mrs. Burton's courage and decision, her plan met with no
especial opposition from any other member of the Camp Fire group.

The girls regretted her leaving, and Sally Ashton more than the others;
nevertheless it appealed to them as it had to Mrs. Burton, as a
wonderful chance for service and at the same time a thrilling adventure.

Two days later, even at the moment when the aut