come round
before this.' It was Monday. 'How close it is in here! I suppose the
roof gets so heated during the day. Glorious weather in the country! And
I've no end of things to tell you. He won't be long, I suppose?'

'I think not.'

He left his hat and stick in the passage, came into the study, and
glanced about as if he expected to see some change since he was last
here, three weeks ago.

'So you have been enjoying yourself?' said Amy as, after listening for a
moment at the door, she took a seat.

'Oh, a little freshening of the faculties. But whose acquaintance do you
think I have made?'

'Down there?'

'Yes. Your uncle Alfred and his daughter were staying at John Yule's,
and I saw something of them. I was invited to the house.'

'Did you speak of us?'

'To Miss Yule only. I happened to meet her on a walk, and in a
blundering way I mentioned Reardon's name. But of course it didn't
matter in the least. She inquired about you with a good deal of
interest--asked if you were as beautiful as you promised to be years
ago.'

Amy laughed.

'Doesn't that proceed from your fertile invention, Mr Milvain?'

'Not a bit of it! By-the-bye, what would be your natural question
concerning her? Do you think she gave promise of good looks?'

'I'm afraid I can't say that she did. She had a good face, but--rather
plain.'

'I see.' Jasper threw back his head and seemed to contemplate an object
in memory. 'Well, I shouldn't wonder if most people called her a trifle
plain even now; and yet--no, that's hardly possible, after all. She has
no colour. Wears her hair short.'

'Short?'

'Oh, I don't mean the smooth, boyish hair with a parting--not the
kind of hair that would be lank if it grew long. Curly all over. Looks
uncommonly well, I assure you. She has a capital head. Odd girl; very
odd girl! Quiet, thoughtful--not very happy, I'm afraid. Seems to think
with dread of a return to books.'

'Indeed! But I had understood that she was a reader.'

'Reading enough for six people, probably. Perhaps her health is not
very robust. Oh, I knew her by sight quite well--had seen her at the
Reading-room. She's the kind of girl that gets into one's head, you
know--suggestive; much more in her than comes out until one knows her
very well.'

'Well, I should hope so,' remarked Amy, with a peculiar smile.

'But that's by no means a matter of course. They didn't invite me to
come and see them in London.'

'I suppose Marian mention