He observed Helen for some moments before returning to the theme of efficiency.
It was a little later on that Althea's opportunity--and crisis--came.
Aunt Julia had gone in and Miss Buckston suggested to Franklin that he should take a turn with her before tea.

Franklin got up at once and walked away beside her, and Althea knew that his alacrity was the greater because he felt that by going with Miss Buckston he left her alone with her cherished friend.

As he and Miss Buckston disappeared in the shrubberies, Helen opened her eyes and looked at them.
'How do you like Miss Buckston now that you see her at closer quarters ?' Althea asked, hoping to approach the subject that preoccupied her by a circuitous method.
Helen smiled.

'One hardly likes her better at closer quarters, does one?
She is like a gun going off every few moments.' Althea smiled too; she no longer felt many qualms of loyalty on Miss Buckston's behalf.
Helen said no more, and the subject was still unapproached.

'And how do you like Mr.Kane ?' Althea now felt herself forced to add.
She had not intended to use that casual tone, nearly the same tone that she had used for Miss Buckston.