"This must be your sister Mary." "Yes; it's very bad, but as she's dead--" "Dead?
Dear, dear!" "Oh long ago"-- Vanderbank eased him off.

"It's delightful of you," this informant went on, "to have known also such a lot of MY people." Mr.Longdon turned from his contemplation with a visible effort.

"I feel obliged to you for taking it so; it mightn't--one never knows--have amused you.

As I told you there, the first 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.