Aileen Lawton was just about three years older than Helene.

She was fair like her father.

There was no resemblance between her and his wife, but the intimacy between them had been spontaneous and had never lapsed.

She had grown up quite unrestrained and spoilt, and broken three engagements, and was always rushing about proclaiming in one breath, that California was the greatest place on earth and in the next that she should go mad if she didn't get out and have a change.

Another grievance was that although her father let her have her own way, or rather did not pretend to control her, he gave her a rather niggardly allowance for her personal expenses and she was supposed to be heavily in debt.