Helena

ndow after dinner into the May world outside-a world which lay steeped in an after-glow of magical beauty. "What's wrong, I wonder! Have yo

ouch of defiance in her voice. "But of course it

iest, kindest chap goi

ood talking to anybod

matter? Why, you told me you only beg

rel. Time also for me to see that I shall never, never get on

mpanion. "In Heaven's nam

aten back from her slender legs and feet by the evening wind. Geoffrey French, who had had a classical education, almost looked for the quiver an

e, Helena!

de with him-and preach. You've d

man frowne

I remember right, you told me of some proceeding of yours, and asked me for my opi

any reasons-it

t it more polite to

t burst with them. One sho

w I am to disagree with you about Philip

ow you enjoy disagreeing. Why can't y

But at least-ex

the lawns, three or four young men, and three or four girls in light dresses. The air seemed to be full of laughter and young voices. Only Mrs. Friend

ting at a stalk of grass-"well enough, I mean, to explain th

said French lazily, rolling over on the gr

But, first of all, let's get some common ground. You admit, I

h reserv

id Helena hastily. "Th

or

en,-you

all the old stupid chaperonage business-at least nearly all-that we are to choose o

rmation is-that the mo

looked up at her

f seventeen-like that one-" her gesture indicated a slight figure in white

e an invitation came for the babe from some great house last week, addressed to 'Miss Luton and partner'-whereon Lady Maud wrote back-'My daughter has no partner and I shall be very happy to bring her.' Rather a poke in the eye! Then there are the women of five or six and twenty who have been thro

hat abo

her a babe-n

f-and I've done a year

g? All right. Am I

it's you all over-to give it, before

at half a dozen dances lately? No!-I'm entitled to my say-and here it is. Claim all the freedom you like-bu

cherry, which he caught and put in his button-hole. "I

ncipated young woman, Helena, you'd take it so! But now-" his tone changed

shoulders, as though to

rd Donald to spend

did

ded all the same to see Jim, I told him I would go up and lunch with him at the Ritz. Cousin Phi

r whether you have any idea how people who

urse men b

minable too-the way you talk

long face with its deeply set grey eyes, a rather large no

ow why I should stay and listen," said Helena provokingly, makin

happen to notice Buntingford-when he's sitting

ne was cold, but she no lo

friend of his said to me the other day-'I often f

be?" asked Hele

ld no more torment a wounded soldier, than worry Buntingford-if they could help it. Then there are other facts that no one knows unless they've worked

may be a saint-with seven haloes-for those that don't cross him. But I want m

ndrel like Donald! What can you know about

is a world, now, in which we've all got to know,-both the bad and the good of i

e mad!" said the you

cross the lawn-"Peter!" A slim boy who was walking beside the "babe" of seventeen, some distanc

-here

t the lake? You might p

youth joyously. "Won

t. Shall we as

made a

shoul

in the direction of a strip of silver under

towards the girlish

and the disappearance of the two in the woody walk that bordered the lawn. Then

take Mr. H

nd nationalization-and labour men-and all that rot. Can't we ever let it alone? I want to talk to you, Helena. I sa

how nice it sounds-especially after Geoff

f it comes to that, I'

e it out, when I'

ena, still laughing. "

I believe you know perfectly well what it's abou

he was sitting with the steering ropes in her hands opposite a boy in his shirt sleeves, with the

done with the

, Helena, if you want any advice about fore

oing to be

ly. "It seems beastly to be wanting more. But my unc

did in your khaki, Peter. What hav

ns? Oh, they're kick

d Helena severely. "By the way, Peter, you've never told me yet-Oh, I s

softness, her beautifu

eter with en

nsider

l?" she asked u

boy angrily. "You know I want to forget it. I

nto the trench, that he had been carrying the dead. He himself had spent six months in hospital from the effects of wounds and shock. He had emerged to find himself a V. V

ent forward presently, and laid her own hand on

r Pe

d kissed the hand befor

passionately. "I'm not a child, though I

shadow of deep woods, now impenetrably dark. The star in Helena's hair glittered in the light, and the face beneath i

it, Helena?" sai

wh

e Arts Ball? Why did you cut me, not once-b

a lau

as she lazily trailed her hand i

do you

lip-and Geoffrey-about Lord Donald-so if you insis

th him. He's the limit. Well, but-I'm not going to quarrel about Donald, Helena-I'm not going t

oked roun

," she said

er. No, but-listen to me, dear Helena! Why won't you mar

s tone f

me so often," said Helena, laughing. "Neglect me

-it matters

nd the railway men. I'm full of unrest! I can't and won't settle down just yet. I want to look at things-the world's like a great cinema show ju

eriment," said Peter stoutly. "I

e time I shall quiet down. It doesn't matter if I break my own heart.

not in love with anybody. You'd soon

h, whose heart seemed to be fluttering in her very hands. But she was only thrilled intellectually-as a spectator. Peter would s

a, you might promise m

ld a

... I think it's getting late-we ought to be going

hey emerged on a moonlit slope of lawn, where was the usual landing-place. T

ith Buntingfor

on. Aren't you

cried Peter. "She'l

surprised to hear that I like her very much. She's a

rse, that she'll nev

Dear Peter-make it up!

e for you to say

kes were bringing the

impatiently. "I shall be friends, of course-tak

kiss, to which h

you in!" said Lord Bunt

hand to Helena. She stumbled out, and would have fallen

f me!" she said, v

Mrs. Friend to express a hope t

'm cold. Peter, will you race me t

d soon drawn the eyes and laughter of all the other guests, who cheered as the pant

ventionalities, and mimicked the "babe's" simpering manner with young men; she had enquired pityingly how Mrs. Friend had got on with the old Canon who had taken her in to dinner, and had launched into rather caustic and, to Mrs. Friend's ear, astonishing criticisms of "Cousin Philip's wine"-which Mrs. Friend had never even dreamt of tasting. But of Cousin P

in bed, Mrs. Friend heard movements in the adjoining room, and was

ssible. Cousin Philip had scarcely addressed a word to her during the evening, and had bade her a chilly good-night. Of course, if that was to be his attitude it was impossible she could go on living under his roof. Her mother could not for a momen

ur is at stake." Yet, of course, her guardian was bound to resist. The fight between her will and his was natural and necessary. It was the clash of two generations, two views of life. She was not merely the wilful and insubordinate girl she would have been before the war; she saw herself, at any rate, as something much more interesting. All over the world there was the same breaking of bonds; and the same instinct towards violence. "The violent ta

suddenly something checked her-the physical recollection, as it were, left tingling in her hand, of the grasp by which Buntin

she could recollect of Cousin Philip, from her childhood up, through her school years, and down to her mother's death. Till now he had been part of the