"Helen," she said, very low, "are you ever really unhappy?" "Why yes, Jean, sometimes. But why do you ask? Surely you are always in good spirits." Jean smiled a little bitterly: "Oh, of course I am, and I suppose I must go on fulfilling my destiny until the end of the chapter. But even if one has a reputation for unending hilarity, there are times----" She broke off abruptly with a laugh which suggested tears, and rushed away in the direction of her room, leaving Helen sorely puzzled. CHAPTER XVI. "IT WAS ONLY MY IMAGINATION." "May I come in, Aunt Helen?" "Certainly, dear." Aunt Helen looked up from the open Bible on her knee, and welcomed Jean with a cheery smile. "Where were you all yesterday? I did not have a glimpse of you." The girl crossed the room, and dropping down into an easy-chair near the open window, gazed listlessly out across the sunlit lawn. "Oh, I was just here as usual." Aunt Helen closed her Bible and laid it carefully down on the table. "Are you tired already of so much pleasuring, Jeanie?" "I don't see that we have had a great deal of pleasuring lately," her niece replied perversely. "I think Hetherford is the stupidest place in the world, and I am tired of everything." Aunt Helen was far too wise to remonstrate just then. After a moment's silence, she opened a subject which had never failed to awaken an interest in Jean. "I had a nice letter from Mrs. Appleton to-day. They seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves now, and she says Guy is working splendidly and expects to accomplish great things on his return." "Yes," was Jean's inattentive response, as her eyes marked the circling of a buzzing fly outside the window. "Miss Stuart is making quite a long visit," ventured Aunt Helen patiently. "I had thought that she would soon tire of Hetherford." "I am sure I don't see why she doesn't go away. The whole house is turned upside down to provide her with amusement. It is a perfect bore." "My dear," Aunt Helen objected, "that is surely not the spirit of true hospitality. We do not speak ill of our guests. _Noblesse oblige._" "I can't help it," and Jean, now thoroughly aroused, started up from her chair; "I am not going to pretend to like a person when I don't. She is insufferably patronizing, and I hate her." Aunt Helen looked up at her niece with real distress in her eyes. "Why, child," and she held out her hand, "come here. I want to speak to you." Jean stood irresolute, looking half ashamed, and wholly miserable. At that most inopportune moment Nathalie flung open the door. "Oh, here you are, Jean. I have been looking all over for you. Come on down and have a game of tennis before dinner. Why, what's the matter?" Jean hastily averted her face. "Nothing. I don't care to play tennis." "Oh, please do, I am just in the humor for it." "You may be, but I am not," Jean returned curtly.