“I want you to look as beautiful as you can, dear,” she said aloud, by way of changing the subject; “besides Mr. Harrison, there’ll be another visitor at lunch to-day.”

“A stranger?” echoed Helen.

“You remember, dear, when I told you of Mr. Howard I spoke of a third person who was coming—­Lieutenant Maynard?”

“Oh, yes,” said the girl; “is he here?”

“Just until the late train this evening,” answered the other.  “He got his leave as he expected, but of course he didn’t want to come while Mr. Howard was so ill.”

Helen remembered with a start having heard someone say that Mr. Howard was better.  “Auntie,” she cried, “he won’t be at lunch, will he?  I don’t want to see him.”

“He won’t, dear,” was the reply; “the doctor said he could leave his room to-day, but it will be afterwards, when you have gone driving with Mr. Harrison.”

“And will he leave soon?” asked Helen, shuddering; the mention of the invalid’s name had instantly brought to her mind the thought of Arthur.

“He will leave to-morrow, I presume; he probably knows he has caused us trouble enough,” answered Mrs. Roberts; and then reading Helen’s thought, and seeing a sign upon her face of the old worry, she made haste to lead her down the stairs.

Helen found Mr. Harrison in conversation with a tall, distinguished-looking man in naval uniform, to whom she was introduced by her aunt; the girl saw that the officer admired her, which was only another stimulant to her energies, so that she was at her cleverest during the meal that followed.  She accepted the invitation of Mr. Harrison to go with him to Fairview during the afternoon, and after having been in her room all the morning, she was looking forward to the drive with no little pleasure, as also—­to the meeting with the architect whom Mr. Harrison said would be there.

It seemed once as if the plan were to be interrupted, and as if her excitement and resolution were to come to naught, for a telegram arrived for Mr. Harrison, and he announced that he was called away to New York upon some business.  But as it proved, this was only another circumstance to urge her on in carrying out her defiant resolution, for Mr. Harrison added that he would not have to leave until the evening, and her aunt gazed at the girl significantly, to remind her of how little time there was.  Helen felt her heart give a sudden leap, and felt a disagreeable trembling seize upon her; her animation became more feverish yet in consequence.

After the luncheon, when she ran up for her hat and gloves, her aunt followed her, but Helen shook her off with a laughing assurance that everything would be all right, and then ran out into the hallway; she did not go on, however, for something that she saw caused her to spring quickly back, and turn pale.

“What is it?” whispered her aunt, as Helen put her finger to her lips.

“It’s he!” replied the girl, shuddering; “wait!”