"And we dare not risk packing it," returned Miss Annora, "because they might take it into their heads to examine our boxes." "How can we get it through?" mused the elder sister. "We must get it through!" declared the younger sister. Presently Annora exclaimed, "I have it! We will wear it! No duty is paid on what one is wearing." "Yes, yes," said Melissa, "but how can we wear it? The white will get soiled and the black torn in travelling. Besides, if it looks unnatural, as it would on our dresses and mantles, the officials will be sure to notice it." "It would not look unnatural on our bonnets," said Annora. They set to work to decorate their bonnets with the lace. They mingled white and black, _fichu_ and flounce, in the most skilful manner, and though the bonnets looked somewhat overdone, yet they carried the lace, and it was probable that the male eyes of the Custom House officials would not notice anything abnormal. The Misses Wylie rejoiced in their cleverness. They sat in the train on their way to France with clear consciences and light hearts. They had _rien à déclarer_, nothing dutiable. In the compartment with them was only one other passenger, a stout man of good-humoured aspect; evidently, from his extreme flabby stoutness and his extreme good-humour, a middle-class German. Now, Germans who understand English are very sociable with their English fellow-travellers. As this German did not address the Misses Wylie, they felt sure that he did not understand English, and they talked freely to each other. [Illustration: "THEY TALKED FREELY."] "I suppose," said Melissa, "that my bonnet looks all right? It does not strike the eyes as being too much trimmed, eh, Annora?" "Well," said Annora, laughing, "it is too much trimmed for good taste, but then on this occasion you have bad taste. What about mine?" "Oh, quite artistic; 'a study in black and white,' as the artists say." The ladies laughed together, full of glee at their coming triumph over the Custom House officers. The German wore the fatuous grin affected by people who listen to a language which they do not understand. At last the train slowed into Blandain Station, the frontier! Out jumped the Misses Wylie with their hand baggage. They calmly awaited the approach of the officers. Out lumbered the German with his fatuous smile. He sauntered up to one of the chiefs of the _douane_. "Rien à déclarer," said both ladies. "Eau de Cologne, dentelles, tabac, spiritueux--" the officer ran off. "Rien, rien," said the Misses Wylie. The man said nothing more, and the ladies, expecting the cry of "En voiture, s'il vous plaît!" felt extremely happy. But at that moment the official to whom the German had been speaking came up to them and said, in very fair English, "The ladies are fond of lace?" Their hearts sank within them. "Rather," they conceded. "And to carry it on the bonnet is a convenient manner of avoiding the duty." They were undone!