But the sound of his laughing was too infectious to be resisted--the small figure began to shake all over, and at last could contain itself no longer.

With a shout of merriment little Jeanne, for it was she, sprang out of the carriage and threw her arms round Hugh's neck.
"O Cheri," she said, "I _couldn't_ keep quiet any longer, though I wanted to hide my face till you had got into the carriage, and then surprise you.

But it was so nice to hear you laugh--I _couldn't_ keep still." Hugh felt too utterly astonished to reply.

He just stared at Jeanne as if he could not believe his own eyes.

And Jeanne did not look surprised at all! That, to Hugh, was the most surprising part of the whole.
"Jeanne!" he exclaimed, "you here! Why, Dudu told me you were ever so far away." "And so I am," replied Jeanne, laughing again, "and so are you, Cheri.
You have no idea how far away you are--miles, and miles, and miles, only in this country they don't have milestones.