"Nan," said Helen, "I wish the Vortex had never come to anchor here. Everything has gone wrong since then."
"Be fair, Helen. Are you sure the fault lay there? It seems to me that everything went happily until——"
"Until when? Go on, Nan."
"Until Miss Stuart came."
Helen, who had been half-sitting up, with her head propped on her hand, dropped back among the cushions with a heavy sigh.
"I don't know why you should think so. You are prejudiced against Lillian, and harsh in your thoughts of her. I am not at all sure that it is fair."
Nan gained her feet, and looked gravely down at her friend:
"Is it not true, dear? Think, Helen. Have not many things gone wrong since your acquaintance with Miss Stuart? Oh! I am sure of it, quite sure."
Unbroken silence.
"Are you angry with me, Helen?" Nan asked at length.