he fact that she had just been returning from her
own expedition when she met the wanderers, and had been filled with
very similar fears concerning her reception as those which had filled
her sister's heart.

The other fact, which Barbara read aloud to Mademoiselle Therese from
the newspaper, was that Jean Malet had been apprehended for furious
driving at a late hour the previous night, and would have to pay a
heavy fine.

"How he had come safely through the streets at such speed," said the
journalist, "was a miracle. Fortunately, there was no one in the cart
but himself."

"Fortunately, indeed, there was not," remarked Barbara, folding up the
paper.

CHAPTER VIII.

MONT ST. MICHEL.

The following day Barbara was taken to a confirmation service at a
Roman Catholic church in the town, for one of Marie's younger brothers
was coming from the country to be confirmed. Barbara watched the
service curiously, feeling rather as if she were in a dream. The
bishop entered the church with much pomp, adorned in wonderful lace and
embroidered vestments. His progress up the aisle was slow, for there
were many mothers and sisters with little children, whom they presented
to him for his blessing, and he patiently stopped beside each, giving
them his ring to kiss.

He was waited on by the clergy of the church and some from the country
round, and these latter amused Barbara not a little, for they carried
their rochets in newspapers, or in shabby brown bags, which they left
in corners of the seats, while they slipped on their rochets in full
view of every one. Then the boys, accompanied by their godfathers, the
girls by their godmothers, filed slowly up to the bishop, who blessed
each in turn. On leaving him they passed in front of two priests, the
first attended by a boy bearing a basket of cotton-wool pellets dipped
in oil, the second by a boy with a basket of towels.

The first priest rubbed the forehead of each child with oil, and the
next one dried it. After which they went singing to their places.

The ceremony was a very long one, and Barbara was not very sorry when
it was over. She grew weary before the close, and was glad when they
made their way home, accompanied by Marie's father--the Loires'
half-brother--and the little boy. The former was a farmer in the
country, and Barbara thought he was much pleasanter to look upon than
either his daughter or sisters.

Mademoiselle Loire had provided him at lunc