near you?" Ida asked, speaking
quickly, as if to interrupt what Waymark was about to say.

"The Castis? Oh yes."

"What is Mrs. Casti like?" she said, in a tone which attracted
Waymark's attention.

"Well," he replied, "it's difficult to describe her. There's nothing
very good about her, and I suppose nothing very bad. I see little of
her now; she's almost always ill."

"What's the matter with her?"

"Can't say; general weakness and ill health, I think?"

"But she's so young, isn't she? Has she friends to go and see her?"

"Very few, I think."

"It must be dreadful to be like that," said Ida. "I'm thankful that I
have my health, at all events. Loneliness isn't so hard to bear, as it
must be in illness."

"Do you feel lonely?"

"A little, sometimes," said Ida. "But it's ungrateful to poor old Grim
to say so."

"Have you no acquaintances except the people you work with?"

She shook her head.

"And you don't read? Wouldn't you like to go on reading as you used to?
You have a better head than most women, and it's a pity not to make use
of it. That's all nonsense about in making you discontented. You won't
always be living like this, I suppose."

"Why not?" Ida asked simply.

"Well," said Waymark, without meeting her look, "even if you do, it
will be gain to you to cultivate your mind?"

"Do you wish me to cultivate my mind?"

"You know I do."

Waymark seemed uneasy. He rose and leaned against the mantelpiece.

"I will do whatever you bid me," Ida said. "I can get an hour or so
each night, and I have all Sunday."

Waymark felt only too well the effect of the tone he was adopting. The
situation was by this time clear enough to him, and his own
difficulties no less clear. He avoided looking at Ida as much as he
could. A change had again come over her manner; the girlishness was
modified, the old sadder tone was audible at moments.

"If it's fine on Sunday," he said, "will you go with me to Richmond,
and let us have dinner at the old place?"

"No," was Ida's reply, with a smile, "I can't afford it."

"But I invite you. Of course I didn't mean that it should be any
expense."

She still shook her head.

"No, I must take my own share, wherever we go."

"Then I shall certainly refuse your cup of tea next time I come," said
Waymark jestingly.

"That's quite different," said Ida. "But if you like, we can go in the
afternoon, and walk about Roehampton; that I can afford."

"As you please. When sh