As if fearing her courage would fail if she delayed , Lillian ordered the carriage , and , bidding Hester mount guard over her , she drove away to St. John 's Wood . `` Now , Hester , do n't lecture or be prim when I tell you that we are going on a frolic , '' she began , after getting the old woman into an amiable mood by every winning wile she could devise . `` I think you 'll like it , and if it 's found out I 'll take the blame . There is some mystery about Paul 's cousin , and I 'm going to find it out . '' `` Bless you , child , how ? '' `` She lives alone here , is seldom seen , and wo n't go anywhere or receive anyone . That 's not natural in a pretty girl . Paul wo n't talk about her , and , though he 's fond of her , he always looks grave and grim when I ask questions . That 's provoking , and I wo n't hear it . Maud is engaged to Raleigh , you know ; well , he confided to her that he and a friend had found out where Helen was , had gone to the next villa , which is empty , and under pretense of looking at it got a peep at the girl in her garden . I 'm going to do the same . '' `` And what am I to do ? '' asked Hester , secretly relishing the prank , for she was dying with curiosity to behold Paul 's cousin . `` You are to do the talking with the old woman , and give me a chance to look . Now say you will , and I 'll behave myself like an angel in return . '' Hester yielded , after a few discreet scruples , and when they reached Laburnum Lodge played her part so well that Lillian soon managed to stray away into one of the upper rooms which overlooked the neighboring garden . Helen was there , and with eager eyes the girl scrutinized her . She was very beautiful , in the classical style ; as fair and finely molded as a statue , with magnificent dark hair and eyes , and possessed of that perfect grace which is as effective as beauty . She was alone , and when first seen was bending over a flower which she caressed and seemed to examine with great interest as she stood a long time motionless before it . Then she began to pace slowly around and around the little grass plot , her hands hanging loosely clasped before her , and her eyes fixed on vacancy as if absorbed in thought .
But as the XXXXX effect of her beauty passed away , Lillian found something peculiar about her .
Helen Hester John Lillian Lodge Paul Raleigh Wood first scruples