rst thing I did was to ask
Fernanda about the company; and when she mentioned your name I
immediately said: 'Would he like me to speak to him?'"

"And what did Fernanda say?"

Mr. Longdon stared. "Do YOU call her Fernanda?"

Vanderbank felt ever so much more guilty than he would have expected.
"You think it too much in the manner we just mentioned?"

His friend hesitated; then with a smile a trifle strange: "Pardon me;
_I_ didn't mention--"

"No, you didn't; and your scruple was magnificent. In point of fact,"
Vanderbank pursued, "I DON'T call Mrs. Brookenham by her Christian
name."

Mr. Longdon's clear eyes were searching. "Unless in speaking of her to
others?" He seemed really to wish to know.

Vanderbank was but too ready to satisfy him. "I dare say we seem to
you a vulgar lot of people. That's not the way, I can see, you speak of
ladies at Beccles."

"Oh if you laugh at me--!" And his visitor turned off.

"Don't threaten me," said Vanderbank, "or I WILL send away the cab. Of
course I know what you mean. It will be tremendously interesting to hear
how the sort of thing we've fallen into--oh we HAVE fallen in!--strikes
your fresh, your uncorrupted ear. Do have another cigarette. Sunk as I
must appear to you it sometimes strikes even mine. But I'm not sure as
regards Mrs. Brookenham, whom I've known a long time."

Mr. Longdon again took him up. "What do you people call a long time?"

Vanderbank considered. "Ah there you are! And now we're 'we people'!
That's right--give it to us. I'm sure that in one way or another it's
all earned. Well, I've known her ten years. But awfully well."

"What do you call awfully well?"

"We people?" Vanderbank's enquirer, with his continued restless
observation, moving nearer, the young man had laid on his shoulder the
lightest of friendly hands. "Don't you perhaps ask too much? But no,"
he added quickly and gaily, "of course you don't: if I don't look out
I shall have exactly the effect on you I don't want. I dare say I don't
know HOW well I know Mrs. Brookenham. Mustn't that sort of thing be
put in a manner to the proof? What I meant to say just now was that I
wouldn't--at least I hope I shouldn't--have named her as I did save to
an old friend."

Mr. Longdon looked promptly satisfied and reassured. "You probably heard
me address her myself."

"I did, but you've your rights, and that wouldn't excuse me. The only
thing is that I go to see her every Sunday."

Mr. Longdo