“If you needed me, yes; but I can’t imagine any such necessity.”
“It would be so hard to go home alone.”
Helen’s voice sank almost to a whisper.
“Alone?” echoed Uncle Peabody. “Is Jack going to stay over here and send you back?”
“I don’t know what Jack is going to do, but I shall return home as soon as his book is completed; and unless you go with me I shall go alone.”
Uncle Peabody understood. “My dear, dear child,” he said, taking her hand in his and pressing it sympathetically.
“Don’t, please.” Helen gently withdrew her hand. “If you do that I shall become completely unnerved. Let us return to the villa; I really want to talk with you about it.”
The short walk home was accomplished in silence. As they entered the hallway Uncle Peabody was the first to speak. “Where shall we go?” he asked.
“To my ‘snuggery,’” Helen answered. “There we are sure not to be interrupted.”
“Now tell me all about it,” he urged, as they seated themselves.