But there was only scant and rough communication between Ashuelyn and Estwich; the road was a wretched hill-path passable only by buck-boards; Westwich was the nearest town to Ashuelyn and El Nauar and the city of Dartford, the county seat most convenient to Estwich.

Spring was early; the Estwich hills bloomed in May; and Helene d’Enver moved her numerous household from the huge Castilione Apartment House to Estwich and settled down for a summer of mental and physical recuperation.

Valerie, writing to Neville the first week in May, said: 

“Louis, the country here is divine.  I thought the shaggy, unkempt hills of Delaware County were heavenly—­and they were when you came and made them so—­but this rich, green, well-ordered country with its hills and woods and meadows of emerald—­its calm river, its lovely little brooks, its gardens, hedges, farms, is to me the most wonderful land I ever looked upon.

“Helene has a pretty house, white with green blinds and verandas, and the loveliest lawns you ever saw—­unless the English lawns are lovelier.

“To my city-wearied eyes the region is celestial in its horizon-wide quiet.  Only the ripple of water in leafy ravines—­only the music of birds breaks the silence that is so welcome, so blessed.

“To-day Helene and I picked strawberries for breakfast, then filled the house with great fragrant peonies, some of which are the colour of Brides’ roses, some of water-lilies.

“I’m quite mad with delight; I love the farm with its ducks and hens and pigeons; I adore the cattle in the meadow.  They are fragrant.  Helene laughs at me because I follow the cows about, sniffing luxuriously.  They smell like the clover they chew.

“Louis, dear, I have decided to remain a week here, if you don’t mind.  I’m a little tired, I think.  John Burleson, poor boy, does not need me.  I’m terribly worried about him.  Rita writes that there is no danger of pneumonia, but that Dr. Colbert is making a careful examination.  I hope it is not lung trouble.  It would be too tragic.  He is only twenty-seven.  Still, they cure such things now, don’t they?  Rita is hoping he will go to Arizona, and has offered to go with him as his model.  That means—­if she does go—­that she’ll nurse him and take care of him.  She is devoted to him.  What a generous girl she is!

“Dear, if you don’t need me, or are not too lonely without seeing me come fluttering into your studio every evening at tea-time, I would really like to remain here a few days longer.  I have arranged business so that I can stay if it is agreeable to you.  Tell me exactly how you feel about it and I will do exactly as you wish—­which, please God—­I shall always do while life lasts.

“Sam came up over Sunday, lugging Harry Annan and a bulldog—­a present for Helene.  Sam is so sentimental about Helene!

“And he’s so droll about it.  But I’ve seen him that way before; haven’t you?  And Helene, bless her heart, lets him make eyes at her and just laughs in that happy, wholesome way of hers.