The tone was rather too careless, and her hand shook while she poured out a cup of coffee. Mrs. Lascelles, noticing this trepidation, felt her heart sink within her. "The company was pleasant enough last night," said she, "as far as _our_ box was concerned; but I don't think people all amused themselves equally. Helen, for instance, seemed bored to death. She does _not_ look well, and I am sure she is not happy. I'm very fond of her, Jin, and so are you. What _is_ it, do you think? and how can we do her good?" These ladies were not fairly matched. Mrs. Lascelles became flurried and nervous as she neared the point of collision. Miss Ross, on the contrary, grew steadier and cooler with the immediate approach of danger. "I don't think Helen knows her own mind," she replied; "girls very seldom do. You must surely have observed in your personal experience, Rose, that "Too many lovers will puzzle a maid." Mrs. Lascelles accepted the implied compliment with a forced smile, but it did not turn her from her object. "Helen is unlike most girls," she answered; "and I don't fancy any number of lovers would make amends to her for losing the one she has set her heart on. People are so different, you know, and Helen's is one of those deep, quiet, reserved natures that suffer awfully, though they suffer in silence. I think, Jin, between you and me, that Helen likes Somebody, and that Somebody would like her if it wasn't for Somebody else!" Though almost sublime in its ambiguity, Miss Ross understood this "dark sentence" perfectly, and scorned to affect misconception of its purport. "You mean Captain Vanguard!" She came out with his name in a burst of defiance. "Well, how can I help _that_?" "Oh, Jin, as you are strong be merciful!" pleaded Mrs. Lascelles. "You know your own power. You know you are one of the most taking creatures in the world if you only try. Look at Uncle Joseph, look at even Mr. Goldthred, though I consider him the truest of the true. Look at Sir Henry. To be sure, it's no compliment from _him_, for he's the same to everybody. Look at all the men who come near us. You needn't even take the trouble of shooting, like Mr. Picard's American colonel and his squirrel--down they come at once. Can't you let this squirrel alone? Can't you leave him to Helen, dear? Everybody will be so pleased, and I should be _so_ much obliged to you, Jin, if you would!" Miss Ross laughed. "The last is certainly a strong inducement," said she; "but it seems to me you are leaving the squirrel's own inclinations out of the question. Because he comes down for Colonel Crockett, does it follow he'll be so obliging to everybody else? I suppose Frank--I mean Captain Vanguard--has a perfect right to talk to me instead of Miss Hallaton, if he is more amused in my society than in hers."