Helen vanished, and he found himself alone with Mrs. Walshingham, which, of course, made him breathless and Boreas-looking for a moment.
"You were one of Helen's pupils in the wood-carving class?" asked Mrs. Walshingham, regarding him with the quiet watchfulness proper to her position.
"Yes," said Kipps, "that's 'ow I 'ad the pleasure——"
"She took a great interest in her wood-carving class. She is so energetic, you know, and it gives her an Outlet."
"I thought she taught something splendid."
"Everyone says she did very well. Helen, I think, would do anything well that she undertook to do. She's so very clever. And she throws herself into things so."
She untied her bonnet strings with a pleasant informality.
"She has told me all about her class. She used to be full of it. And about your cut hand."
"Lor'!" said Kipps; "fancy, telling that!"
"Oh, yes! And how brave you were."