s house; there was a light supper, and
then they said good-by to each other.

It seemed to Helen she had never been so happy in her life as when she
was once more settled in her round at Mrs. Dayton's. The order and
quietness, the nice adjustment that she was beginning to understand and
appreciate; the bright talk that went to outside subjects and did not
revolve in one small personal round, was so much more interesting. True,
Mrs. Lessing and her daughter discussed clothes, and the other ladies
joined in, but it was on the aesthetic and artistic side. They talked of
so many other things--daily events outside of North Hope. That was not
all their world. It was the larger world that so interested Helen.

She and Mrs. Dayton discussed some possibilities. When Mrs. Dayton went
away, Mr. Conway slept in the house, and took his meals elsewhere, but
even if Helen could attend to the house it would not be possible to
leave her alone in it. Then there would be clothes and various expenses.
It was not as easy a matter to settle as it looked. Of course there was
a sort of adoption of Helen, but Mrs. Dayton was not quite sure she
wanted the responsibility. She had worked through a good deal of
pressure herself, and was now where she could enjoy some of the
pleasures of life as a compensation. There might be found a neighbor who
would be glad of Helen's assistance--she would offer to provide her
clothes.

Helen had settled herself at her reading one morning, when Mrs. Disbrowe
just paused at the door with her baby in her arms, and nodded to Mrs.
Van Dorn.

"Excuse me for interrupting, but there is a young man down on the porch
who wishes to see Helen. He would not come in."

Helen glanced up in amaze, then smiled, as she raised her eyes to Mrs.
Van Dorn.

"I think it is the young man from the library. Perhaps he found the book
you wanted."

"Ah--that is quite likely. Run down and see."

Helen put her marker in, and laid down her book. But when she reached
the porch and the caller rose from the wicker rocker, she stretched out
both her hands with a glad cry of surprise:

"Oh, Mr. Warfield!"

He glanced at her, held her off and studied her again.

"Why, you have grown or changed or something," he exclaimed in surprise.
"And it has only been such a little while! You look as if you were
really glad to see me," and the smile gave him such a cordial
expression.

"Oh, I am. You can't think how glad. And it is so unexpected