he name familiar to you?"

"I used to know some one called that."

"Indeed? How strange it would be if you knew her already. I have spoken
to her of you, but she didn't tell me she knew your name."

"Oh no, she wouldn't. It was years and years ago. We used to go to
school together--if it's the same."

The way in which this was spoken was not very promising, but Waymark
would not be discouraged, having once brought himself to the point of
carrying the scheme through. Harriet went on to ask many questions, all
of which he answered as satisfactorily as he could, and in the end she
expressed herself quite willing to renew Ida's acquaintance. Waymark
had watched her face as closely as she did his, and he was able to read
pretty accurately what was passing in her mind. Curiosity, it was
clear, was her main incentive. Good will there was none; its growth, if
at all possible, would depend upon Ida herself. There was even
something very like a gleam of hate in her dark eyes when Ida's name
was first spoken.

"When may I bring her!" Waymark asked. "Perhaps you would like to talk
it over with Julian first? By-the-by, perhaps he remembers her as your
schoolfellow?"

"I don't know, I'm sure," she said, with a pretence of indifference. "I
don't see what he can have to say against it. Bring her as soon as you
like."

"She is not free till seven at night. Perhaps we had better leave it
till next Sunday?"

"Why? Why couldn't she come to-morrow night?"

"It is very good of you. I have no doubt she would be glad."

With this understanding Waymark took his departure.

"Do you remember Ida Starr?" was Harriet's first question to her
husband when he returned that evening.

"Certainly I do," replied Julian, with complete self-control. "Why?"

"When did you see her last?" followed quickly, whilst she examined him
as keenly as she had done Waymark.

"See her?" repeated Julian, laughing. "Do you mean the girl you went to
school with?"

"Of course I do."

"I don't know that I ever saw her in my life."

"Well, she's coming here to-morrow night."

An explanation followed.

"Hasn't he ever spoken to you about her?" Harriet asked.

"No," said Julian, smiling. "I suppose he thought it was a private
affair, in which no one else had any interest."

"I hope you will like her," he said presently. "It will be very nice to
have a friend of that kind, won't it?"

"Yes,--if she doesn't throw one of my own plates at me."

C