of you like that, as you know. I think you a strangely
lovely and strangely interesting person. From the first moment I saw you
you appealed to me. I felt that you needed something--love and sympathy,
perhaps. The fact that it's been a sort of chance--our meeting--makes
it all the sweeter to me.'

Again Helen was silent for a moment, and again Althea, sitting with
downcast eyes, knew that, though touched, she was uncomfortable. 'You
are too nice and kind for words,' she then said. 'I can't tell you how
kind I think it of you.'

'Then we are friends? You do feel me as a friend who will always be
interested and always care?'

'Yes, indeed; and I do so thank you.'

Althea put out her hand, and Helen gave her hers, saying, 'You _are_ a
dear,' and adding, as though to take refuge from her own discomposure,
'much too dear for the likes of me.'

The bond was thus sealed, yet Aunt Julia's shaft still stuck. It was she
who had felt near, and who had drawn Helen near. Helen, probably, would
never have thought of keeping in touch. She was Helen's friend because
she had appealed for friendship, and because Helen thought her a dear.
The only comfort was to know that Helen's humility was real. She might
have offered her friendship could she have realised that it was of value
to anybody.

It was a few evenings after this, and perhaps as a result of their talk,
that, as they sat in Althea's room over coffee, Helen said: 'Why don't
you come to England this summer, Althea?'

Aunt Julia had proposed that Althea should go on to Bayreuth with her
and the girls, and Althea was turning over the plan, thinking that
perhaps she had had enough of Bayreuth, so that Helen's suggestion,
especially as it was made in Aunt Julia's presence, was a welcome one.
'Perhaps I will,' she said. 'Will you be there?'

'I'll be in London, with Aunt Grizel, until the middle of July; after
that, in the country till winter. You ought to take a house in the
country and let me come to stay with you,' said Helen, smiling.

'Will you pay me a long visit?' Althea smiled back.

'As long as you'll ask me for.'

'Well, you are asked for as long as you will stay. Where shall I get a
house? There are some nice ones near Miss Buckston's.'

'Oh, don't let us be too near Miss Buckston,' said Helen, laughing.

'But surely, Althea, you won't give up Bayreuth,' Aunt Julia interposed.
'It is going to be specially fine this year. And then you know so few
people in E