As I searched my poor brain for a reply, Teresa without knowing it, came to
my help by calling me into the kitchen. Upon any other occasion, I would
have simply answered, without moving, "What do you want?" But now I was
only too glad to obey her immediately and so put an end to a difficult
situation. "I'm going to town," she said, as she put on a clean apron.
"Perhaps you and Paula would like to come along." "What a lark!" I cried,
as I ran out to tell the glad news to Paula, and two minutes later we were
ready.

Teresa looked us over from head to foot, reminding us that the strings of
our shoes hadn't even been tied, that our faces and hands showed signs of
an all-too-hasty toilet, to say nothing of a lack of a comb in our hair.
Finally, however, we were on the road to town, happy to find ourselves in
the cool shade of the long avenue of linden trees that stretched away in
the distance. What a joy it was to have at my side this new, wonderful
companion to whom I would be able to open the mysteries of the great shops
and public buildings--marvelous things which this simple country girl had
never seen before in all her life. What could be greater happiness for any
girl of my age!



CHAPTER FIVE

LOUIS' WATCH

When Louis returned at the end of the week, he was surprised to find Paula
so happy and contented. He found her in the kitchen helping Teresa to dry
the dishes. "One would think," said he, "that you had been with us for many
months instead of a few days." Paula showed herself to be much more