But she would not tell him.
A few days later Helen, with her gentle smile, had most unexpectedly cancelled the sentence of banishment.
"It is of no use your going, Paul," she had said. "The child will fret and you—you will be miserable."
"And so you feel you cannot endure the boys' banter?" Paul asked of his companion, somewhat ruefully.
"Oh well," she answered cheerfully, "I must, for the present. It is rather nice being engaged to you," she continued naïvely, "and it is so convenient."
"Convenient?" poor Paul echoed blankly.
"You see," she explained, "I never could get about anywhere: the boys being almost always away, and Miles busy. Besides, it was very lonely, with only a servant, about twenty yards behind you. But now, now I can go great distances, in the trap if we wish, and we can talk, and altogether it is very comfortable."
"Very," agreed Paul, at once amused and dismayed.
Something dry in the tone of his response made her look up quickly.
"I hope you don't misunderstand me," she said timidly. "I should not like you to think I was only making use of you. I—I am very fond of you," she added, her voice sinking, "and I enjoy being engaged, very much."