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with a window overlooking the road; it had evidently been used as a dressing-room, for there was a gentleman's wardrobe in it, and a writing-table and easy-chair. "I must coax Verity into giving me this room," he said half to himself; but Elizabeth heard him. "Verity! is that Mrs. Keston?" she asked. "What a very original name! I do not believe I ever heard it before." "I daresay not, but it just suits her. Yea--Verily, as her husband calls her." Then Elizabeth looked extremely amused. "What a droll idea! Your friends seem rather out of the common, Mr. Herrick. I am quite impatient to make their acquaintance. We have a large circle of friends--an inner and an outer circle--but I am always glad to add to the number." "I think you will like Verity," he returned seriously; "she is such a genuine little soul, and so fresh and original. Oh, I am quite sure you will take to her." Malcolm spoke in such a decided manner, as though it were a foregone conclusion that Verity would be admitted to the privileged inner circle, that Elizabeth's curiosity was strongly excited. "You seem rather certain of the fact," she said perversely; "but, as my sister would tell you, I am not so easily pleased after all." "Nevertheless you will like Verity," he returned quickly. "Like attracts like--a transparent, truthful nature, which is absolutely without guile, will not fail to appeal to you; I already know you well enough to predict that with certainty." Elizabeth turned this speech off with a laugh, but her colour rose at the implied compliment; if like attracts like, as Mr. Herrick said, he must think her original and guileless too. Something in Malcolm's tone--in the expression of his dark eyes--confirmed this impression, and in spite of her stateliness and thirty years the second Miss Templeton felt a little shy. "We have not seen the garden-room yet," she said hastily, and then she led the way downstairs. The garden lay on the side of the house, and was well kept and full of flowers; but the temporary building erected by Mr. Logan rather spoiled the view from the back of the house, though a gay flower-border surrounded it. Elizabeth, who had procured the key from the servant, now opened the door. It was rather a bare-looking place, as Verity had said; more of a workshop than a studio, though it was used for both purposes, and, as both of them knew, good work had been done there; but Mr. Logan, who had a fine st
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