Mrs. Appleton took her son's disappointment very much to heart, and when Helen came home again Rose Cottage was closed and its occupants once more gone abroad. When the buckboard rolled by the deserted little place Helen drew her breath sharply, then, catching Jean's reproachful eyes upon her, began hurriedly to speak of other things. The Lawrences frankly avowed to her their regret and disappointment, but not one word of explanation did the girl vouchsafe to them, so after a little they accepted the inevitable, and Guy's name was no longer spoken among them.
And thus it was that of the Lawrence girls, Helen alone had the proud distinction of having had a genuine love affair, the memory of which, however, was tinged with deep regret, and caused her naught but pain. Perhaps she felt intuitively that she had done wrong. What was a pleasant friendship compared to the love of a true man's heart? Yet the thought of a marriage with Guy was out of the question.
So the foolish girl reasoned. Time brings many changes, however, and perhaps what once seemed to Helen a catastrophe may one day seem to open the very gates of Paradise.
And now that we have taken a leaf from Helen's past, let us resume our way.
CHAPTER IV.
A SAIL ON THE "CYCLONE."
"They have hired the dear old Cyclone, Helen, because the men thought the wind was bound to be light to-day and we would have so much more sport in a small boat than on the Vortex."
Nathalie stood in the doorway, gesticulating eagerly with her slender brown hands. Her pretty face was quite flushed with excitement, and her hurried words tripped over each other in their anxiety to be spoken.
"You see we must make haste, for Dick says we must be at the dock at eleven, or we won't catch the tide."
"But what about luncheon?" interposed Helen quietly.
A comical expression of dismay crossed Nathalie's face.