They appeared to have no memories or reminiscences of relatives, nor of father or mother; there was a curious atmosphere of isolation about them.

They had plenty of talk about what might be called their present--their recent schooldays, their youthful experiences, games, pursuits--but none of what, under any circumstances, could have been a very far-distant past.

Bryce's quick and attentive ears discovered things--for instance that for many years past Ransford had been in the habit of spending his annual two months' holiday with these two.

Year after year--at any rate since the boy's tenth year--he had taken them travelling; Bryce heard scraps of reminiscences of tours in France, and in Switzerland, and in Ireland, and in Scotland--even as far afield as the far north of Norway.

It was easy to see that both boy and girl had a mighty veneration for Ransford; just as easy to see that Ransford took infinite pains to make life something more than happy and comfortable for both.