"Elijah is." Helen restrained herself with difficulty. She felt an hysterical and unreasonable desire to laugh. "That's why I'm in his office, probably. I'm a relief." Helen's reply was reassuring to Amy. It was a new reason for the relations between Elijah and Helen. She accepted it without question. "I'm afraid that I am too much interested in his work. It isn't good for him, but I can't help it. I think you are right about his being too much in earnest." Amy spoke laboriously; she evidently had some ulterior purpose in view, more evident to Helen than she knew. With all the guile that she could muster, Amy looked at Helen. "What is your work?" Helen did not feel the pathos of what was passing before her eyes, she only saw the absurdity of it. "Oh, nothing much. I just keep the books. That's easy. Then I write letters, and see that they are mailed, and for amusement, I have arguments with Ralph Winston; he's the engineer, you know." "Yes, I know Mr. Winston. I don't think much of him. He's rather conceited, don't you think so?" "Very." "I am sure he is. My husband knows more about orange trees, and land, and irrigation than anybody, and yet I have heard Mr. Winston contradict him time and time again. My husband is very patient with him." Again Helen felt an almost uncontrollable impulse to laughter. "Ralph tries everyone's patience when he doesn't agree with them." Amy felt that she was wandering from her purpose. She had a vague idea of returning to it by a graceful transition, but one did not suggest itself to her, and she dared temporize no further. "Is book-keeping so very hard?" she asked. "Not at all; it's just a little puzzling once in a while." "Where did you learn?" "At a business college. I took a regular course." "I can't--that is--I--" Amy stumbled, her face flushed with confusion. She had almost disclosed her purpose in so many words. "Really," she continued, regaining her mental foothold, "I know nothing about such things. Do you really have to go to college to learn book-keeping?" "No, indeed." Helen was moved to pity. "Get 'A and B's elements,' any book store has them; a little paper and pencil, a small journal, a cash book and ledger. A little practice, and the thing is done." Helen's face was smiling and imperturbable. A glance at it convinced Amy that her purpose was undivined.