"I had a fall aboard ship on our way to Fort Munroe, and broke my arm. It was badly attended to, so I got leave to come home and have Dr. ——," naming a well-known surgeon, "fix it up for me."
"I am sorry," said Helen, looking at him with friendly eyes.
"Where were you going, Miss Lawrence?" Farr asked, as the surging throng crowded them close to the railing of a near house.
"I thought I would go in just above here, and see the pictures."
"Will you let me accompany you? I would deem it a very great favor, I have so many questions I want to ask you. I want to know all about Hetherford and everyone there.
"Indeed, I wish you would, and I will gladly satisfy your curiosity. There is not much to tell of Hetherford save that Jean has gone to Europe."
She tried to mention her sister's name quite naturally, but the color rose to her face, and she could not bring herself to look at her companion.
"To Europe?" he echoed, and could think of nothing further to say.
"I will tell you all about it when we are inside," Helen said to him rather flurriedly.
In a moment more they found themselves in a softly lighted room, the walls of which were lined with paintings. A few people, catalogue in hand, were slowly walking about or standing in groups of two or three before some painting of more than usual merit. Helen gained courage to raise her eyes to her companion's face, and something in its expression made her direct her steps at once toward a huge red ottoman which occupied the center of the room.