n actions with great pleasure.

The girl thought it a little dull at first, for she had been given an
amiable old horse who knew the words of command so well that the reins
were almost useless, and who ambled along in a slow and peaceful
manner. But Monsieur Pirenne was entirely satisfied with his pupil,
and he assured her, "if she continued to make such stupendous progress
in the next lesson, he would have the felicity of taking her out in the
following one."

At this Mademoiselle Therese shook her head pensively.

"Then I must take a carriage and follow you," she said.

Barbara laughed.

"Oh, dear, mademoiselle, do think how impossible that would be," she
explained, seeing the lady looked somewhat offended. "If we took to
the fields how could you follow us in a carriage? No; just think how
nice it will be to see so much of your friend while I am out."

This view of the case somewhat reconciled Mademoiselle Therese to the
idea, though her contentment vanished when she found that the wind had
increased considerably during the afternoon, and that the mouth of the
river was beginning to look a little disturbed.

They stood on the end of the quay, waiting the arrival of the
steamboat, and mademoiselle shook her head gloomily.

"It is not that I am a bad sailor, you know," she explained; "but, when
there is much movement, it affects my nerves and makes me feel faint."

Barbara looked steadfastly out to sea. She did not want to hurt
Mademoiselle Therese's feelings by openly showing her amusement.

"It is very unpleasant to have such delicate nerves," her companion
continued; "but I was ever thus--from a child."

"But at this time of year we shall not often have a stormy passage,"
comforted Barbara.

At that moment a gust of wind, more sudden than usual, playfully caught
Mademoiselle Therese's hat, and bore it over the quay into the water.

"My hat!" she shrieked. "Oh, save my hat!"

Barbara ran forward to the edge, but it had been carried too far for
her to reach even with a stick or umbrella.

"My hat!" mademoiselle cried again, turning to the people on the pier,
who were waiting for the ferry. "Rescue my hat--my _best_ hat!"

At this stirring appeal several moved forward and looked smilingly at
the doomed head-gear; and one kind little Frenchman stooped down and
tried to catch it with the end of his stick, but failed. Mademoiselle
grew desperate.

"If you cannot get the hat, get the hat-pins," sh