Women,  even  the  most  sensible  women,  are  so  damned
sentimental!  So  he  told  himself.  Lately  he  had  had  the
unpleasant,  disconcerting  feeling  that  whenever  Helen
looked  at  him  she  thought  of  "poor  Milly."

"Still,  I  don't  envy  Sir  Lyon  his  wooing,"  went  on
Blanche.  "Helen  is  a  girl  who'll  take  a  long  time  to  make
up  her  mind,  and  who  will  weigh  all  the  pros  and  cons."

"Then  you  don't  think,"  said  Varick  in  a  low  tone,
"that  she  would  ever  be  swept  off  her  feet?"

At  one  time  he  had  felt  sure  she  would  be.
"By  a  grand  passion?  My  dear  Lionel,  what  an  ab-
surd idea !  But  hush "

The  door  opened,  and  the  object  of  their  discussion
came  in.  Helen  Brabazon  always  looked  especially  well
as  breakfast.  Il  was  her  hour.
How's  Bubbles  this  morning?"  she  asked.
And  Blanche  felt  rather  guilty.  She  hadn't  been  into
Bubbles'  room;  her  mind  had  been  too  full  of  other
things.  "She's  going  on  very  well,"  she  answered  com-
posedly. "I  think  she  might  get  up  to-morrow,  in  spite


240       FROM  OUT  THE  VASTY  DEEP

of  Dr.  Panton."  And  then,  for  she  felt  Varick  was
"willing"  her  to  say  it:  "I  do  hope  that  you  are  going
to  stay  on  till  Saturday,  even  if  your  aunt  has  to  go
away  this  afternoon."

"Yes,"  said  Helen,  and  the  colour  deepened  a  little  in
her  cheeks.  "Yes,  I've  persuaded  Auntie  to  let  me  stay
on  till  you  and  Bubbles  come  up  to  London.  It's  only
two  days,  after  all."

"I  am  glad."  There  was  a  genuine  thrill  of  satisfaction
in  Varick's  voice.  This  meant  that  he  and  the  girl  would
be  practically  alone  together  all  to-morrow  and  Friday.
