The Le Bruns, whom at first they had outdistanced, passed them some time before, Mons. Le Brun having been able to persuade the man with the ramshackle carriage, for a goodly sum, to take them in, although it seemed as if any moment the carriage might break down or the horse give out, so many were the passengers. Annette had waved her hand as they drove past. “Are you going to Paris?” asked Lucie. “No,” Annette called back. “We are going to my grandmother’s sister. She will be glad to take us in.” It was something to know where Annette was going, Lucie thought, although she would turn aside a little later on, and her destination was nowhere near Paris. It must be to Victor’s home they were going. It was a pity that Pom Pom could not have gone with them, Lucie reflected. She continued to plod stolidly along with Paulette. They spoke little. It took all their energies to keep up the steady pace. Finally Lucie found herself saying over dully: “At the next village we shall meet grandfather and take the train.” Evidently the same thought was in Paulette’s mind, for she turned after a while to say: “It cannot be much farther, little one. By sundown we should arrive.” “Where do we sleep, Paulette?” “Who knows? There must be some spot. No doubt Monsieur will arrange for that before we come. There is no question but we shall sleep well.” This was comforting and spurred Lucie’s lagging tread to a brisker one. Pom Pom toiled patiently along behind her. Once in a while he stopped short, looked back, then took up his line of march, his eyes fixed steadfastly upon the track of his mistress. At last as the sun was setting they heard a shout ahead, then a confused murmur of voices raised high in a clamor of discontent. “What can it be, Paulette?” cried Lucie, stopping short. “We shall see,” Paulette answered laconically. They went on a little farther, reaching a slight rise in the road. Paulette stood still, shaded her eyes and looked toward the village of their destination. “Mon Dieu!” she exclaimed, “there is no more a station,” for beyond them were shattered walls, torn tracks, smoking ruins. Lucie sank down on the ground and burst into tears from sheer fatigue and disappointment. Pom Pom crept close to her, licking her hands and whining his sympathy. “What shall we do? What shall we do?” moaned the girl. “I am so tired, Paulette, oh, so tired. I do not see how I can walk another step.” “I know, my child, I know. Let me think for a moment.” The brave woman looked keenly around. Not far away was a cow shed which had escaped destruction. “I cannot leave you here by the roadside,” mused Paulette. “Let us go to the little shed, my dear one. I can leave you there while I go to hunt up Monsieur. It is evident that there is no inn left in that village, but one never knows what may be found till he seeks. Come, we will examine that cow shed.”