ce in the neighbouring house--had not been carried
out, for, about three quarters of an hour later, Mademoiselle Eugenie
came hurrying up to see if the girl was with them, and on hearing she
was not, at once proposed--with a suspicious glance at Barbara--that
she should inquire at the next house.

She asked the girl no questions, however, perhaps guessing that if she
did know anything she would not be very likely to tell. It was
Mademoiselle Therese who, in the wildest state of excitement,
questioned every one in the house, Barbara included, and the latter
felt a little guilty when she replied that the last time she had seen
the missing girl was in the baths.

Before very long the bellman was going round proclaiming her loss, and
describing the exact clothes she wore; and Barbara was afraid, when she
heard him, that there would soon be news of her; for she had been
wearing the little black hat and coat that all the girls at
Mademoiselle Eugenie's were dressed in. But the evening came, and
apparently nothing had been heard of the truant. Mademoiselle Loire
and Marie did hardly any lessons, such was the general excitement in
the house, but discussed, instead, the various possibilities in
connection with the escape.

Perhaps there was a little triumph in the hearts of the two elder
women, for they had always felt rather jealous that Mademoiselle
Eugenie had more boarders than they, even although they did not lay any
claim to being a school. They would have given a great deal to be able
to read Barbara's thoughts, but she looked so very unapproachable that
they shrugged their shoulders and resigned themselves, with what
patience they could, to wait.

Barbara's anxiety was greatly relieved the next evening by letters
which she received from both the "Pretender" and Alice. The first
wrote briefly, and to the point. He said he had delivered the girl
safely to the people at Neuilly, whom Alice had taken to, and that
there seemed to be "good stuff" in her, too, for he had given her some
very straight advice about making the best of things, which she had not
resented. Further, that Barbara need have no more anxiety, as he had
cabled to her father to get permission for her to stay at Neuilly, in
case of any trouble arising when it was discovered where she was.
Barbara folded up the letter with a sigh of relief that the matter had
gone so well thus far, and opened Alice's communication, which was
largely made up of excl