letters. [18] “But must you go so soon, Nona? Really I don’t think it wise,” Sonya remonstrated in response. However, she scarcely spoke as if she expected her advice to be heeded. For in regard to her nursing, Nona was strangely obstinate and unmindful of herself and of other people. Nona nodded. “Yes.” Then she added immediately, “Please do not let us continue to talk of my plans. I am to have old friends, or almost old friends go with me. Molly Drew and Agatha Burton are home from Italy and are crossing with me to France.” Nona turned toward her hostess. “I think I wrote you, Barbara, about[19] the three new Red Cross girls who made the voyage to Italy with us and later were at the American Hospital in Florence. I learned to like them very much, although we were never so intimate as our first group of Red Cross girls. The third girl was Dolores King from New Orleans. I don’t know where she is at present; perhaps she has remained in Italy.” [19] “I don’t like Miss Burton. I should prefer not to nurse with her,” an unexpected voice exclaimed at this instant. But, as the voice was only Bianca’s and as Sonya had almost at the same instant risen to say farewell, no one paid any notice to her speech. Indeed, no one except Barbara Thornton really heard or remembered it. Moreover, Bianca had seen the girl she now mentioned, scarcely more than three or four times. Sonya was anxious to leave the two old friends alone and therefore hurried Bianca and Carlo away with her, now that tea was over. As soon as Barbara had said farewell to them and returned to her drawing-room,[20] Nona went straight up to her and placed her hands on the smaller girl’s shoulder. [20] “What is the trouble, Barbara dear? You do not seem so radiant as when I went away. Don’t tell me unless you like, but haven’t you everything in the world to make you happy? Better be happy when you can, Barbara mia. You know Eugenia and Mildred and I used always to count on you as the gayest of the four of us and I want to give only a good report to them, when I see them in France.” Barbara drew away slightly. “So you have started in ahead of me, Nona, in asking questions! I do not see how I could have permitted it when I had such dozens to ask
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