"Yes; and I should like a paper of pins and a new magazine," said Helen, a little, a very little eagerness in her tone.
"Certainly. The stable is at your disposal, and our entire marine."
"But we must see the Glenarm pictures first," said Miss Pat, and we went at once into the great cool house, coming at last to the gallery on the third floor.
"Whistler!" Miss Pat exclaimed in delight before the famous Lady in the Gray Cloak. "I thought that picture was owned in England."
"It was; but old Mr. Glenarm had to have it. That Meissonier is supposed to be in Paris, but you see it's here."
"It's wonderful!" said Miss Pat. She returned to the Whistler and studied it with rapt attention, and I stood by, enjoying her pleasure. One of the housemaids had followed us to the gallery and opened the French windows giving upon a balcony, from which the lake lay like a fold of blue silk beyond the wood. Helen had passed on while Miss Pat hung upon the Whistler.
"How beautifully those draperies are suggested, Helen. That is one of the best of all his things."
But Helen was not beside her, as she had thought. There were several recesses in the room, and I thought the girl had stepped into one of these, but just then I saw her shadow outside.
"Miss Holbrook is on the balcony," I said.
"Oh, very well. We must go," she replied quietly, but lingered before the picture.