"I acknowledge that. She should have been a boy, for she is so impetuous and does get into such scrapes in her efforts to help some one else."
"She got out of this scrape all right," returned Mr. Barnwell.
"Thanks to you," returned Mrs. Corner. "Helen, this is Mr. Carter Barnwell, from Richmond. My sister, Miss Corner, Mr. Barnwell."
Miss Helen gave a pleased exclamation. "I wonder if you could, by any chance, be the son of my old friend Molly Carter. She married a Barnwell, Jethro Barnwell, and lives in Richmond."
"I don't know of but one Jethro Barnwell in Richmond," said the lad smiling, "and I happen to be his son. If you know my mother, Miss Corner, I am a lucky fellow to have this chance of meeting you all."
"And it is a great pleasure to me," returned Miss Helen. "Come right up and sit down, Mr. Barnwell."
"Oh, call me Carter, won't you? It is so good to see home folks and to hear my name called as it is at home. Why, I know I have heard my mother speak of you, Miss Corner. Weren't you schoolmates, and didn't you meet in Europe some years ago and travel about together for awhile?"
"Why, yes, of course we did. Carter be it, then. I am glad to have this chance of seeing Molly's boy."
"I'm out here for my health," said Carter. "Oh, I'm not in such bad shape, but the doctor said one of my lungs was a bit wrong after pneumonia, and I had better not take any risk. He advised my dropping college for a year, and so I've come out here for the winter. I say, it's a great place, isn't it? I was sort of homesick at first, for I didn't know a soul, but I'm getting used to it now. Hotels are such beastly places, you know."
"They are when one is alone. You must consider us old friends, however," said Miss Helen. "I am so pleased to find out you are Molly's son, and if there is a moment's homesickness, Carter, come right here and we will drive it away."