Follow a Stranger

linen dress which somehow expressed her depressed mood.

After lunch she played cards with Helene Lillitos, who

was bored. She found the other woman quite pleasant, out

of the company of Marie-Louise. Helene seemed to make an

&

nbsp; effort to be polite to her. Kate had noticed that she always

wore black or lavender, and wondered if she were still

mourning for her husband. But Paul Lillitos had died

several years ago, so perhaps it was just that Helene knew

that the sombre colours suited her.

Occasionally, Helene’s slight French accent was tinged

with an American twang, which reminded Kate of her usual

residence in the United States.

She asked Helene where she lived when she was in

America, and Helene explained that she had two homes.

“An apartment in New York and a little place in the hills

in California. New York used to be an exciting place, but it

is becoming a nightmare. One hardly likes to go out after

dark, and never goes out alone.” She shuddered. “So many

of my friends have been mugged—you know?—robbed in the

street. It is incredible that such things happen in such a

civilised city.”

Kate asked her about California, and Helene went on to

describe her other home. “In the spring and autumn it is

beautiful, but it is too hot in summer.”

“The Americans call autumn the fall, don’t they?” Kate

asked.

Helene laughed. “Yes, the fall.”

“It is such a descriptive word,” said Kate. “It conjures up

falling leaves, the dying summer, everything.”