imagine. They do not speak before me, but I can
hardly fail to guess what they are thinking from their manner. Sally,
can't you realize that we are in a foreign country where the language,
the customs, the ideas are not like ours? Even if what you are doing
might not be considered wrong at home, can't you see that here in France
you may be misunderstood? Please confide in me dear. You promised----"

But Sally's soft shoulders stiffened in resistance.

"Evidently you do not trust me yourself, Alice, and naturally your
opinion is more important to me than anyone's else. Yet when one has
lived with the same people a long time one does expect a certain amount
of faith and understanding. I am sorry, for I cannot tell you what you
wish to know at present. I may be able to in a very few days, if you
will be good enough to wait and not speak to Aunt Patricia. It is hardly
worth while to make a difficulty between us! Personally I am glad Tante
_is_ away; at least, I am glad she is away today, since it would
have been more difficult to refuse my confidence to her than to any one
else. But I shall regret it if I am able to make my confession before
her return. She at least would have tried to believe I have not intended
to do anything wrong. Now please leave me alone, Alice. You were right,
I am going out on an important errand. You need not worry over my going
alone this time, because old Jean has promised to go with me as soon as
he is free and I shall wait for him."

Then, although Alice lingered for several moments longer, when Sally
would neither speak to her, nor look at her, she slowly left the room.

Afterwards when Alice had disappeared Sally's pretence of courage
vanished and she sat with her hands clasped tightly together while the
tears ran down her face.

All very well to pretend to Alice that she was convinced she had been
doing no wrong. But was this true? In the end would she not have to pay
dearly in the continuing condemnation and distrust of her friends? When
her confession was finally made, would they even then understand and
forgive her?

CHAPTER XV

THE DISCOVERY

A little more than an hour later Sally and Jean started forth upon their
mysterious pilgrimage.

To have been spared the ordeal of this morning's visit to the French
chateau Sally would have given a great deal. On other occasions she had
been nervous and fearful, but never to the extent to which the recent
conversation with her si