were two American gentlemen downstairs in the _salon_ to see her--one
old, one young. "Mr. Morton," was the name on the card.

"Why, it must be the American pretender!" cried Barbara; who, seeing
her companion's look of surprise, added hastily, "the elder one used to
know my Aunt Anne, and they have both been in Paris; it was the younger
one who helped Alice Meynell there."

"Then, indeed, I must descend and inquire after her," said mademoiselle
joyfully. "I will just run and make my toilet again. In the
meanwhile, do you go down and entertain them till I come."

But Barbara was already out of the room, for she thought she would like
to have a few minutes conversation before Mademoiselle Therese came in,
as there might not be much opportunity afterwards.

"How nice of you to call on me," she said, as she entered the _salon_.
"I was just longing for one of the English-speaking race."

The elder Mr. Morton was tall and thin, with something in his carriage
that suggested a military upbringing; his hair and eyes gray, the
latter very like his nephew's grown sad.

"The place does not suit you?" the elder man inquired, looking at her
face.

"Oh, yes, I think so; it is just very hot at present."

"Like the day you tried to ride to Dol," the nephew remarked, wondering
if it were only the ride that had given her so much more colour the
first time he had seen her, and the sea breeze that had reddened her
cheeks the last time.

But there were so many things the girl was anxious to hear about, that
she did not allow the conversation to lapse to herself or the weather
again before Mademoiselle Therese, arrayed in her best, made her
appearance. She at once seized upon the younger man, and began to pour
out questions about Alice.

"You need not fear any bad results," Mr. Morton said to Barbara. "My
nephew is very discreet;" and Barbara, hearing scraps of the
conversation, thought he was not only discreet but lawyer-like in his
replies.

The visit was not a very long one, Mr. Morton declining an invitation
to supper that evening, with promises to come some other time. But
before they went, he seized a moment when Barbara's attention was
engaged by his nephew to say something that his hostess rather resented.

"The young lady does not look so well as I had imagined she would. I
suppose her health is quite good at present?"

"She has complained of nothing," Mademoiselle Therese returned,
bridling. "Why should sh