France helped us once, and some of us, at least, will help France now." She smiled gravely, and John knew that he was welcome in her house.
Lannes would see to that anyhow, but he wished to make a good impression on his own account.
"I know that Philip risks his life daily," she said.

"He has chosen the most dangerous of all paths, the air, but perhaps in that way he can serve us most." She spoke with neither complaint nor reproach, merely as if she were stating a fact, and her son added briefly: "You are right, mother.

In the air I can work best for our people.

Ah, John, here is my sister, who is quite curious about the stranger from across the sea." A young girl came into the room.

She was tall and slender, not more than seventeen, very fair, with blue eyes and hair of pure gold.