It was a relief to leave the neighbourhood of Sixth Avenue and cross to
the open space of Union Square.
The east side of the little park was quiet.
"All right?" I asked.
"All right."
Her breath came quickly as if she had been frightened.
"But see," she said a moment later, "there comes Kitty trundling her
bicycle down Madison Avenue. You'd better come in, and be on your best
behaviour; yesterday Kitty thought we were quarrelling."
"Sorry I'm wanted only to vindicate--is it your character or mine that
would stand clearing? And will you tell me----"
A little old Frenchman, with a wooden leg, who was singing the
"Marseillaise" from door to door, approached, holding out his hat.
"Merci, M'sieu', Madame," he said, carelessly pocketing a nickel; then, as
he fairly caught sight of the face that Helen of old might have envied, he
started back in amazement, slowly whispering:--
"Pardon! Mon dieu! Une Ange!"
We left him muttering and staring after us.
"I'll really have to get a thicker veil," said Helen hastily; "stuffy
thing! I like to breathe and see. At first it was--oh, delightful to be
looked at like that--or almost delightful; for if no had one noticed, how
was I to be sure that--that New York was agreeing vit' me? But now they
begin to----"
"Then New York hasn't always agreed vit' you? Aren't you going to tell
me----"
"Oh, I've been well," she interrupted, "ever since I came.
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