“Hello, Jane! How are you? How’s Mrs. Kane? Well? Ah, that’s good. Tell her I’ve brought a friend who is going to stay with me. My room’s ready, I suppose? Good. Well, we’re going upstairs, but we’ll be down for lunch. I’ll be glad to see Mrs. Kane if she can come up.”
Then turning to Helène she smiled:
“Come along up, Helène. Our things won’t be here for some time; but we’ll get along somehow.”
Soon they were joined by the landlady, a pleasant-faced, middle-aged little woman with a gentle voice and manner. She greeted Margaret affectionately and shook hands with Helène on being introduced to her.
“My friend will stay with me, Mrs. Kane, if you don’t mind, until you can find her a room. Have you one free?”
“Yes, Miss Fisher, but it’s only the hall bedroom on this floor. Will it do?”
“Of course it will. Fix it up for her, there’s a dear.”
The landlady left, casting admiring glances at Helène.
“Helen, dear—it’s to be Helen now, no French edgings here, you know. Are you happy?”
Helène for answer went up to Margaret and putting her arms around her neck laid her head on the tall girl’s breast.