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 its money and I had to work for my living? And that things are better now, but my family have all perished, and I've come here for a change. That statement doesn't do serious violence to my conscience."

"There's a little two-room log cabin you can have to retire to whenever you get bored with us. . . . And of course we'll have to call each other by our first names. You don't mind, do you?"

Miss Cread smiled sympathetically.

"She's nice," decided Louise, in relief, then said, "I'll go out and help Nana now. After lunch, en route la bonne troupe!"

This phrase, more than anything Louise had said, afforded Miss Cread the clue to their relationship. Louise had reverted into French with a little flourish which seemed to say, "At least I have one advantage over you: I am bi-lingual." Miss Cread saw that it was characteristic of Louise to underestimate her virtues and fail to recognize her faults, and for her, who had spoken French in Paris before Louise was born, Louise's accent was unlovely, as only the Canadian variety can be. She would let her pupil make the discovery for herself. Miss Cread was pleased to find that her mission was going to be a subtle one.

"I shall be fearfully nervous for a few days, until we get into swing," said Louise at the table.

"Then my first task is to restore your composure."

"Your second will be to keep it restored. . . . I'm growing less and less afraid of you. Wouldn't it be