American Church and visit with Helen

Very late about rising - as usual.

However, caught the 10:15 car and through the kindness of some people learned how to go to the American church* where I met Helen. The church is very pretty, the rector a fine man. He read the service in a slow impressive manner. The music was beautiful. Unfortunately there is a bad echo so one loses the words and so the connection of thought. The church was quite well filled. It took me one hour to return. Reached here at 1:30, an hour late to lunch, so had just bread and milk and an orange.

Helen came out about four, soon after Florence went down to see Pauline Altiocchi, so Helen and I were left alone. She asked me some pointed questions and I told her the truth about last winter, how Florence had become restive under the unnatural conditions in which she found herself, so that she actually felt she was doing wrong if she went alone either to walk or to make a call knowing Helen would feel hurt if left behind.

I told Helen that such a relation between people was unnatural and unpleasant. That Florence liked her very much but that she felt she must have more freedom of action and I told Helen that if she wanted to join us on the condition that we would all be free to live our own lives, we would be glad to have her. She did not answer, but evidently wishes to think it over.

Florence returned tired out, her feet hurting her. Helen left just before F. returned. F. had seen Pauline and her children and had invited them all here for tea on Tuesday, but I begged her to recall the invitation as she was so unwell. Sat up till after twelve writing to Alfred.

*Most likely St. James American Protestant Episcopal Church, Via Rucellai Bernardo 9, which is known as “the American Church” and was built 1908-1911.