French woman she was, after holding it for a moment and pressing her lips to the evergreen, she flung the wreath back into the audience.

“Keep it, my Sammees,” she exclaimed, “for the laurels of France are for you!”

[171]However, when, after a few moments, Eugenia Castaigne joined the great French woman, she found her deeply depressed.

[171]

“Ah!” she murmured, “you have asked me here to amuse your American boys and what have I done? If I have done anything I have made them sad. You do not wish a French tragedienne these days; what you want is your Charlée Chaplin.”

And she spoke with such a funny combination of sorrow and chagrin, and withal pronounced Charlie Chaplin’s name with such an amusing French accent, that Eugenia, who had been sternly holding back her tears all evening, broke into a laugh.

“We may have Charlie Chaplin many evenings, you but one, Madame Renane, and you are mistaken if you do not know you have given us the highest kind of pleasure, which is inspiration.”

When the greater number of the audience had departed, Nona and Lieutenant Martin walked slowly out together. Lieutenant Martin was tired and did not feel equal to talking to many of his comrades.

[172]However, Madame Bonnèt and Berthe were waiting near the door to speak to him, and as Berthe’s recitation had been one of the most successful of the evening, Lieutenant Martin felt he must congratulate her.

[172]

They were talking only a moment or two, but Nona stood a little apart. She was glancing carelessly about, when she saw standing only a few feet behind Madame Bonnèt a little French girl, holding a French soldier by the hand.

Another moment she continued staring and then touched Lieutenant Martin on the arm, directing his attention to what had attracted hers.

Madame Bonnèt observed them both.

“Why are you both so interested?” she asked. “It cannot be possible you know my little French girl? She wandered into our camp only two or three days ago, bringing a French soldier with her, some poor fellow who has been injured and has forgotten his own history. She says they have been tramping from village to village, hoping to find his regiment or someone 

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