Again Mrs. Lummis looked a bit suspicious. Then, with a whole-souled burst of enthusiasm, she said, “I don’t care if your story is fishy,—I believe in you, and I won’t ask you any more questions.”
“Oh, you think I’m an impostor!” Helen exclaimed, the fact just dawning on her. “Oh, how _funny_!”
Her laugh was so honest and so infectious that Mrs. Lummis laughed too, and the two became instant friends.
“But I hate to intrude worse than ever, now,” declared Helen.
“Oh, never mind. It can’t be helped. You can have my room, and I’ll bunk on the davenport. I live alone, and—and I expected a few friends this evening——”
“Oh, I see. But I’m no spoilsport. Just tuck me into bed—oh, I wonder if I couldn’t go home——” She ran to the window and looked out. “No; it’s a regular blizzard! And I _must_ call up Nan! She’ll be frantic!”
Mrs. Lummis was a bit blunt, but she was kindly now, and Helen replied, “Oh, that’s where I’m staying. Mrs. Fairfield. I know her number, may I call her?”
“You’ll scare the wits out of her, if you tell her you’re in some strange house. But,—would she send for you?”
“I don’t know. It’s such a storm! She’d probably say if I’m safe under cover to stay here.”
“But I know she’ll worry. She told me, you see, I’d get lost,—and I did. I don’t see how it happened!”
“I do. You got the wrong house. That’s certain. Maybe the wrong number or street—oh, say, didn’t you want _East_ Ninety-fifth?”
“Why I don’t know! Maybe I did! I always forget that East or West matters!”
“Oh, you little goose! _Why_ did they let you out alone?”
“They said I oughtn’t to come alone,—but I begged so hard.”
“Well, that’s it. You wanted East and you got West.”
“No; I can’t cross the Park. The horse tried, and had to come out.”
“Well, I see it all, now. And I’ll take care of you. Do you want to tell your Fairfield friends?”
Helen considered. “I think I’ll tell them that I’m all right,” she said at last. “I mean, I won’t tell them what really has happened,—but let them think for tonight that I’m at Mrs. Wheeler’s.”
Again that look of suspicion crossed Mrs. Lummis’ face.
“Now stop!” Helen laughed. “I’m only doing it to save them anxiety. Mrs. Fairfield will worry all night, and my cousin will nearly go crazy.”