of the slender-columned clock on the mantel-piece had spanned
a half-hour before shame at his own indecision finally drew him to his
feet.

From her writing-table, where she sat over a pile of letters, Anna
lifted her happy smile. The impulse to press his lips to it made him
come close and draw her upward. She threw her head back, as if surprised
at the abruptness of the gesture; then her face leaned to his with the
slow droop of a flower. He felt again the sweep of the secret tides, and
all his fears went down in them.

She sat down in the sofa-corner by the fire and he drew an armchair
close to her. His gaze roamed peacefully about the quiet room.

"It's just like you--it is you," he said, as his eyes came back to her.

"It's a good place to be alone in--I don't think I've ever before cared
to talk with any one here."

"Let's be quiet, then: it's the best way of talking."

"Yes; but we must save it up till later. There are things I want to say
to you now."

He leaned back in his chair. "Say them, then, and I'll listen."

"Oh, no. I want you to tell me about Miss Viner."

"About Miss Viner?" He summoned up a look of faint interrogation.

He thought she seemed surprised at his surprise. "It's important,
naturally," she explained, "that I should find out all I can about her
before I leave."

"Important on Effie's account?"

"On Effie's account--of course."

"Of course...But you've every reason to be satisfied, haven't you?"

"Every apparent reason. We all like her. Effie's very fond of her, and
she seems to have a delightful influence on the child. But we know so
little, after all--about her antecedents, I mean, and her past history.
That's why I want you to try and recall everything you heard about her
when you used to see her in London."

"Oh, on that score I'm afraid I sha'n't be of much use. As I told you,
she was a mere shadow in the background of the house I saw her in--and
that was four or five years ago..."

"When she was with a Mrs. Murrett?"

"Yes; an appalling woman who runs a roaring dinner-factory that used now
and then to catch me in its wheels. I escaped from them long ago; but
in my time there used to be half a dozen fagged 'hands' to tend the
machine, and Miss Viner was one of them. I'm glad she's out of it, poor
girl!" "Then you never really saw anything of her there?"

"I never had the chance. Mrs. Murrett discouraged any competition on the
part of her subordinates."

"Especial