et again, and dreaded lest there might be
some embarrassment. But beyond an air of shyness that sat strangely on
both, and a kind of amused wonder at meeting after so many years, there
was nothing to show that they had been more than mere acquaintances,
and the talk centred chiefly on Barbara.

"She does not know you are coming yet," Denys said. "Mademoiselle
Therese got your telegram, but said it would be better not to tell your
niece in case the ship went down on the way!"

"What a cheerful person to live with!" Miss Britton ejaculated. "I'm
afraid I may be very rude to her."

"I hope not," Mr. Morton said. "It would do no good, and she seems to
be an excellent lady in many ways."

"We shall see!" Miss Britton replied grimly, getting out of the
_fiacre_; and Denys felt rather sorry for Mademoiselle Therese.

But Miss Britton was often worse in imagination than in reality, and
she behaved with all due politeness to both the sisters, who met her at
the door, and led her into the _salon_. She even bore a certain amount
of Mademoiselle Therese's explanations with patience, then she got up.

"Well, well, I would rather hear all that afterwards, mademoiselle, and
if I may just take off my hat and coat I will go straight up to my
niece. I had breakfast on board."

A few minutes later Aunt Anne opened Barbara's door and entered, a
little doubtful lest her sudden appearance might not be bad for her
niece, but thinking it could not be much worse than a preparation "by
that foolish woman."

Barbara was lying with her back to the door, but something different in
the step made her turn round, and she sprang up in bed.

"Aunt Anne! Aunt Anne!" and dropping her face into the pillow began to
cry.

Aunt Anne stood a moment in doubt. It was such a rare thing to see any
of "the family" cry that she was startled--but not for long; then she
crossed the room and began to comfort her niece.

"It was dreadfully foolish of me," the girl said after a while, "but it
was _so_ nice to see you again. Mademoiselle Therese is very kind,
but--she creaks about, you know, and--and fusses, and it is a little
trying to have foreigners about when you are--out of sorts."

"Trying! She would drive me distracted. Indeed, if I had only her to
nurse me I should die just to get rid of her!"

"Oh, she's not quite so bad as _that_," Barbara returned. "She has
been very kind indeed, aunt, and is a very good teacher; and you get
used to