There was a little start, an odd moment of embarrassment. They
gazed at Helen with quick wonder at her loveliness, then turned away to
hide their surprise.
It was as if in the few days since they had seen her--for the new comers
were Kitty's brother and the Miss Bryant of whom everyone speaks as
"Cadge"--Helen's beauty had so blossomed that at fresh sight of her they
struggled with incredulous amazement almost as a stranger might have done.
Talking rapidly to mask embarrassment, they joined us round the fire, Reid
dropped a slouch hat and an overcoat that seemed all pockets bulging with
papers, while Miss Bryant and Kitty began a rapid fire of talk about
"copy," "cuts," "the black," "the colour" and other mysteries.
"Wish you could have got me a proof of the animal page," said Kitty
finally; "if they hurry the etching again, before my poor dear little
bears have been half an hour on the presses, they'll fill with ink and
print gray. I'll--I'll leave money in my will to prosecute photo-
engravers."
"Oh, don't fret," said Miss Bryant. "Magazine'll look well this week. Big
Tom's the greatest Sunday editor that ever happened; and I've got in some
good stuff, too.
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