'No,' replied Mrs. Curtiss. 'I've never been able to get; but I hope to
go yet.' 'I hope you may,' said Siegmund.

The little woman beamed on him. Having won a word from him, she was
quite satisfied.

'Well,' she said brightly, 'the eggs must be done by now.' She tripped out, to return directly.

'I've brought you,' she said, 'some of the Island cream, and some white
currants, if ye'll have them. You must think well of the Island, and
come back.' 'How could we help?' laughed Helena.

'We will,' smiled Siegmund.

When finally the door was closed on her, Siegmund sat down in relief.
Helena looked in amusement at him. She was perfectly self-possessed in
presence of the delightful little lady.

'This is one of the few places that has ever felt like home to me,' she
said. She lifted a tangled bunch of fine white currants.

'Ah!' exclaimed Siegmund, smiling at her.

'One of the few places where everything is friendly,' she said. 'And
everybody.' 'You have made so many enemies?' he asked, with gentle irony.

'Strangers,' she replied. 'I seem to make strangers of all the people I
meet.' She laughed in amusement at this _mot_. Siegmund looked at her intently.
He was thinking of her left alone amongst strangers.

'Need we go--need we leave this place of friends?' he said, as if
ironically. He was very much afraid of tempting her.