SOPHIE'S ADVENTURE .sx " ARE we arrived at Victoria London ?sx " " The next stoppage will be Victoria Station .sx You are in London already .sx " The question had been asked timidly , with a French accent , by a girl near the sunny window of a railway-carriage .sx There was something sweet and winsome in her face , though the mouth , like the lips of a spoiled child , decidedly hinted possible fits of wilfulness .sx The energy of an active will shone in her dark eyes , though they had a softer anxious look as the railway-journey drew near to an end .sx Her hair was dark auburn reddish gold where it caught the light ; and the fairness of her face would have contented even herself but for obstinate freckles that nobody else ever saw .sx The two troubles of this young traveller's life had been freckles and Pierre Brun .sx Sophie Larique had just left a French school .sx There , in the land where marriages are so often arranged by the parents , she had often received on visiting-days not only her father , the old silversmith from Paris , but with him his partner , Pierre Brun , her destined husband .sx Old Larique , who was full of jokes and good humour , had always laughed at Sophie's objections .sx " I want to choose for myself , " she would say .sx " A pretty reason that for not wishing to marry Pierre , my wilful Sophie !sx " her old father would laugh .sx " Just because I will , you won't !sx But I know your heart better than you do ; I know best , because I love you best .sx Have you any more reasons to urge against my choice ?sx " " It would be the same humdrum life over the shop .sx " " What else would suit you , Sophie ?sx Castles , titles , and adventures ?sx " At this Sophie would smile ; life in a castle , with a titled lover to woo and wed her this had been her dream all her life or at least all her life till she met Ludwig Holz , the art-student .sx " Any more objections ?sx " her father would ask ; and , if Sophie only blushed , he would begin to joke and tease her about Ludwig Holz , whom she had met once when she had taken a fancy for studying art at the Louvre , too .sx " You need not laugh at poor Ludwig's romantic attachment , " Sophie would say at last , with a sigh .sx " He is of a good Bavarian family ; he has sworn fidelity .sx " " And he will go back to Munich and marry !sx " her father would finish .sx " He won't !sx " .sx " Nonsense !sx You will see !sx " Then , kissing her , with loving persuasion , while his white locks lay against her auburn hair " You will be happy if you marry Pierre Brun .sx Why not ?sx " " He only drones at work and says he loves me .sx " " Then you shall come home next week .sx I shall have a holiday soon , and you shall have a wedding .sx " " I won't !sx " And with that , at the last interview with her father on visiting-day at school , Sophie had run out of the drawing-room .sx Though still at school for her freaks and wilful ways had kept her back in everything she was past nineteen , and her chief friend was one of the teachers , Mademoiselle Melanie .sx Just as Sophie had rushed in a temper out of the drawing-room , Mademoiselle Melanie had met her , and asked playfully " What is the matter now ?sx Is it the freckles or Pierre Brun ?sx " " Don't laugh at me !sx " cried Sophie ; then , with a stamp of her little foot " Take me home next week ; indeed he shall not get me !sx He shall not !sx " .sx " If you will stop talking to yourself , " said Mademoiselle Melanie , " I will tell you something .sx I was out on the beach just now , and I thought I saw you at another of your freaks , perched on a rock .sx It was your figure , your hair , your face , even your eyes ; but " slyly " as I drew near I perceived that there were no freckles not even a microscope could find them ; and the young lady was very handsome .sx I had even called your name , and I felt it so awkward that I apologised and ran away .sx She is the girl from that lonely house far up the coast .sx I declare , Sophie dear , if you could only manage to be handsome , you would be nearly as charming !sx " " Go away !sx " said Sophie , half laughing , but like a child in a bad temper .sx Later in the day Madame Dupin , the old mistress of the school , shook her head sadly as she heard worse reports of Sophie .sx " That wilful girl !sx What can be done ?sx Her father will take her home next week , and she will be married , and we shall have peace ; but somebody else won't !sx Alas , it is very sad !sx Let her be sent en penitence to the music-room till supper-time , to occupy herself with the piano .sx " At supper-time no sound had been heard .sx The music-room was strewn with keys , levers , little leather-covered hammers , every bit of ivory and wood that made the mechanism of the instrument ; and even the case was in pieces .sx Sophie was sitting in the middle building a castle with all the bits .sx " 1 have been occupying myself with the piano , " she said ; " I can put it together again , though perhaps not the right way .sx " And this little outbreak was the last of Sophie's scrapes at school , for she had already resolved on flight to her grand-mother in England ; and with that indulgent old lady she would beg to stay till her father for love of her would change his mind , and fetch her back .sx The next morning Sophie Larique climbed the garden-wall and fled .sx She wore the best of her school uniforms .sx But the thought struck her that she would be described , discovered , and brought back before she could even reach Calais .sx " Ah , " she exclaimed , seeing a bright-coloured heap on the shore , " some one is having a swim !sx If they pursue me , I shall outwit them .sx It can be no robbery can it ?sx to exchange clothes .sx " So Sophie made the exchange , and , driving in country carts and resting at cottages , felt safe enough in her present disguise until she reached Calais .sx She crossed the Channel safely , and had completed her journey from Dover and was naturally feeling nervous at the thought that she would next have to inquire in London , the great bewildering foreign city , for the house of Madame Verneau , in Great Wimpole Street .sx She was terrified and exhausted , and hardly knew where to turn when the train stopped and she stood alone among the rushing crowd on the platform .sx All at once two men in a dark livery and a brown-faced Frenchwoman seized her and began leading her away .sx " Do not give trouble , mademoiselle .sx We are the servants sent for you .sx You will come hack with us at once .sx " Sophie struggled , argued , screamed .sx The woman whispered to the crowd , who fell back without interfering and let the group pass .sx Sophie was not even sure who these people were ; they would answer none of her questions ; and , lifting her into a railway-carriage , they were soon being carried back to Dover .sx " I am fainting !sx '' she cried .sx The woman gave her something to drink from a flask , and presently Sophie sank back against the cushions and passed from faintness to deep sleep .sx Her next sensation , after awaking to life , was a strange one .sx Would she find herself in her little white bed at school ?sx With the first flash of memory , she hoped the flight was a horrid dream .sx But no it had been reality ; and she was not back at school again , but in some place that she had never seen before .sx She was lying on a couch in a dingy shadowy room hung with tapestry , and an old woman in a peasant's high muslin cap was knitting in the fading twilight near the window .sx Sophie sat up , weak and frightened .sx " Valerie dear , you are awake , " said the old woman , hurrying to the couch and kissing her forehead .sx " You silly child to run away !sx But they have brought you home now ; and how glad I am to have you again !sx It was a long five years , child , and I felt for you .sx Say you know your old nurse , little Valerie .sx " " Where am I ?sx " asked Sophie .sx " At home , dear child , at Kergadee .sx You remember home , Valerie ?sx You make me tremble , child ; you stare as if five years have made you forget us all !sx " " This is not home !sx " cried Sophie .sx " Let me get away !sx My father is in Paris !sx My name is not Valerie !sx " .sx A look of anguish passed over the old woman's face .sx " Poor child !sx " she said .sx She touched a bell .sx A servant in livery brought in a tray , and , with one searching curious glance at Sophie , set it on a little table near her , said , " Monsieur desires mademoiselle to come when she is able .sx " The old nurse would not allow Sophie to utter a word ; but she pressed her to a delicious little feast cold chicken , dainty bread , an omelette , and fruit .sx " I got it ready for you , my Valerie , " she said .sx " I am sorry to say your uncle is as hard a man as ever ; he would have called it folly , so I said nothing .sx No do not speak it might be bad for your poor head , my child .sx But I wished to give you that little warning , as you will have to go down to him now .sx Do not make him angry ; humour him about the Marquis .sx " At sight of the supper the girl remembered that she was hungry ; and she was presently strong enough to offer to go down to see this uncle , or whoever he was .sx The old nurse told her that she must put on a pretty dress first , and , again stopping all protests , she led Sophie into an adjoining bedroom .sx " Your dresses were sent after you immediately by order .sx No hush !sx You must not make yourself ill with saying silly things .sx Hush !sx " .sx And forthwith Sophie found herself attired in a white summer dress that fitted to perfection .sx The old woman's caresses and admiration gave the girl confidence .sx " One word , " she begged .sx " Do let me say it !sx Am I in a castle ?sx " " Yes , my child !sx You know old " "Ah , " cried romantic Sophie , " what a pity it is all a mistake !sx I should like to live here always .sx " " You shall live here always,'' answered the old woman , brightening , " or close by , when you marry the Marquis .sx " She was led by the old dame along a corridor and down a winding staircase .sx Her guide knocked at an oaken door , pushed it open , and withdrew .sx Sophie was received by a thin , sharp-featured man with iron-gray hair .sx He led her to a chair , saying " You look well .sx So you ran away , Valerie ?sx But , you see , we brought you back to France in double-quick time .sx " " Monsieur , " cried poor Sophie , it is all a mistake !sx Have the kindness to pardon the trouble I have given and to enable me to go to my home in Paris .sx It was foolish and wrong of me ; I ran away from school , and you are all mistaking me for some one else .sx " " Don't you begin your tricks again !sx " thundered the supposed uncle .sx " I will say no more about your running away if you give up your tricks and marry my friend the Marquis .sx " " I know nothing about it .sx I am " .sx " How could you know much , when I hardly ever dared to let him see you , lest you should begin in your headstrong way to pretend madness to frighten him off ?sx But marry him you shall .sx I tell you , Valerie , it is a necessity .sx Kergadee is mortgaged to him ; if you are to be his wife , he will give me good terms any day .sx He is as ready for you now as he was five years ago ; so don't play at madness again .sx " " I am not mad !sx " Sophie protested , springing to her feet .sx " I am not the girl you think me ; I was not here at all five years ago .sx I am the daughter of Monsieur Larique , the silversmith in Paris , and I insist on going " .sx " You cannot escape from Kergadee ; so don't make a scene , " interrupted the old man coldly .sx