turning hastily to the duchess with a forced smile and a somewhat
heightened color. "I had forgotten that I had promised Lady Harriet to
drive you over to Deep Hill after luncheon to meet that South American
who has taken such a fancy to your place, and I must send to the
stables."
As Sir James disappeared, the duchess turned to Helen. "I see what has
happened, dear; don't mind me, for I frankly confess I shall now eat my
luncheon less guiltily than I feared. But tell me, HOW did you refuse
him?"
"I didn't refuse him," said Helen. "I only prevented his asking me."
"How?"
Then Helen told her all,--everything except her first meeting with
Ostrander at the restaurant. A true woman respects the pride of those
she loves more even than her own, and while Helen felt that although
that incident might somewhat condone her subsequent romantic passion in
the duchess's eyes, she could not tell it.
The duchess listened in silence.
"Then you two incompetents have never seen each other since?" she asked.
"No."
"But you hope to?"
"I cannot speak for HIM," said Helen.
"And you have never written to him, and don't know whether he is alive
or dead?"
"No."
"Then I have been nursing in my bosom for three years at one and the
same time a brave, independent, matter-of-fact young person and the most
idiotic, sentimental heroine that ever figured in a romantic opera or a
country ballad." Helen did not reply. "Well, my dear," said the duchess
after a pause, "I see that you are condemned to pass your days with
me in some cheap hotel on the continent." Helen looked up wonderingly.
"Yes," she continued, "I suppose I must now make up my mind to sell my
place to this gilded South American, who has taken a fancy to it. But
I am not going to spoil my day by seeing him NOW. No; we will excuse
ourselves from going to Deep Hill to-day, and we will go back home
quietly after luncheon. It will be a mercy to Sir James."
"But," said Helen earnestly, "I can go back to my old life, and earn my
own living."
"Not if I can help it," said the duchess grimly. "Your independence has
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