nance. How could Helen's
behaviour be explained? If she had met Piers Otway and spent part of
the morning with him, why did she keep silence about it? Why was she so
late in coming home, and what had heightened her colour, given that
peculiar shiftiness to her eyes?

She rose, went to Helen's door, and knocked.

"May I come in?"

"Of course--I have a letter to write by post-time."

"I won't keep you long," said Irene, standing before her friend's
chair, and regarding her with grave earnestness. "Did Mr. Otway call
this morning?"

"He was coming; I met him outside, and told him you weren't very well.
And"--she hesitated, but went on with a harder voice and a careless
smile--"we had a walk up the glen. It's very lovely, the higher part.
You must go. Ask him to take you."

"I don't understand you," said Irene coldly. "Why should I ask Mr.
Otway to take me?"

"I beg your pardon. You are become so critical of words and phrases. To
take _us_, I'll say."

"That wouldn't be a very agreeable walk, Helen, whilst you are in this
strange mood. What does it all mean? I never foresaw the possibility of
misunderstandings such as this between us. Is it I who am to blame, or
you? Have I offended you?"

"No, dear," was the dreamy response.

"Then why do you seem to wish to quarrel with me?"

Helen had the look of one who strugglingly overcomes a paroxysm of
anger. She stood up.

"Would you leave me alone for a little, Irene? I'm not quite able to
talk. I think we've both of us been doing too much--overtaxing
ourselves. It has got on my nerves."

"Yes I will go," was the answer, spoken very quietly. "And to-morrow
morning I will return to London."

She moved away.

"Irene!"

"Yes----?"

"I have something to tell you before you go." Helen spoke with a set
face, forcing herself to meet her friend's eyes. "Mr. Otway wants an
opportunity of talking with you, alone. He hoped for it this morning.
As he couldn't see you, he talked about you to me--you being the only
subject he could talk about. I promised to be out of the way if he came
this afternoon."

"Thank you--but why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because, as I said, things have got rather on my nerves." She took a
step forward. "Will you overlook it--forget about it? Of course I
should have told you before he came."

"It's strange that there should be anything to overlook or forget
between _us_," said Irene, with wide pathetic eyes.

"There isn't really