was so much happier.

It was the second day of their stay, and after a morning of wandering
about the town, both Barbara and her aunt were resting, the former on
the balcony in front of her room, the latter on the terrace in the
garden. Although a book was in her lap, Barbara was not reading, but,
with hands clasped behind her head, was idly watching the passers-by,
when suddenly laziness vanished from her attitude, and her gaze became
intent on the figure of some one who had just turned into the portico
of the hotel. She rose from the low chair, her eyes shining with
excitement.

"It certainly was he!" she said. "Now, Barbara--it is time for you to
eliminate yourself--you must lie on the couch and try to look pale."

She pulled down the window blind, ran into her room, and had hardly
settled herself upon the couch when, as she had expected, a maid came
up with a message asking her to go down to the terrace.

"Please tell Miss Britton I have a headache, and am lying down for a
little," Barbara said, congratulating herself upon the possession of
what had annoyed her considerably a short time before, though in an
ordinary way she would have scoffed at the idea of lying down for a
headache. A few minutes afterwards up came her aunt, looking very
concerned, and fearing lest they had been doing too much. Barbara's
heart smote her, but she told herself that she must be firm.

"I sent for you to come to see Mr. Morton, senior," Aunt Anne
explained. "Strangely enough, he arrived this morning in Rouen, and
has put up at another hotel."

"How nice. How very nice! I shall come down later, aunt. I expect I
shall be _quite_ all right shortly."

She had a little difficulty in persuading her aunt that it was not
necessary to stay beside her, but at last succeeded in doing so, and
gave a chuckle of joy when the door closed.

She had intended to go down to the garden later on, but, strange to
say, fell fast asleep, and did not awaken until the man tapped at her
door, saying the tea had been ordered for four o'clock, but now,
although it was half-past, madame had not returned, having gone along
the river bank, he believed, with monsieur. So Barbara hastily
descended and had tea--very much brewed--all by herself, and then
returned to her room to read.

She had finished her book, and was thinking of getting ready for
dinner, when Aunt Anne came in--quite a different Aunt Anne from the
one she knew, with all her decisi