Mrs.Askerton felt that it was imperative on her to make some allusion to the conversation which had just taken place, and dashed at the subject at once.

"Clara tells me that I am exactly like some old friend of yours, Mr.Belton." Then he looked at her closely as he answered her.

"I have no right to say that she was my friend, Mrs.Askerton," he said; "indeed there was hardly what might be called an acquaintance between us; but you certainly are extremely like a certain Miss Vigo that I remember." "I often wonder that one person isn't more often found to be like another," said Mrs.Askerton.
"People often are like," said he; "but not like in such a way as to give rise to mistakes as to identity.

Now, I should have stopped you in the street and called you Mrs.Berdmore." "Didn't I once see or hear the name of Berdmore in this house ?" asked Clara.
Then that look of pain returned.

Mrs.Askerton had succeeded in recovering the usual tone of her countenance, but now she was once more disturbed.