Later Valerie was surprised and disturbed to learn of the proximity of Neville's family, fearing that if Mrs. Collis heard of her in the neighbourhood she might misunderstand. 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 Naúar and the city of Dartford, the county seat most convenient to Estwich. Spring was early; the Estwich hills bloomed in May; and Hélène 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. "Hélène 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 Hélène 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. Hélène 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 Hélène. Sam is _so_ sentimental about Hélène!