"Well, you'll tell me if you think so." "Ah with a child of seventeen--!" Mr.Longdon murmured it as if in dread of having to pronounce.

"This one too IS seventeen ?" Vanderbank again considered.

"Eighteen." He just hung fire once more, then brought out: "Well, call it nearly nineteen.

I've kept her birthdays," he laughed.
His companion caught at the idea.

"Upon my honour _I_ should like to! When is the next ?" "You've plenty of time--the fifteenth of June." "I'm only too sorry to wait." Laying down the object he had been examining Mr.Longdon took another turn about the room, and his manner was such an appeal to his host to accept his restlessness that as he circulated the latter watched him with encouragement.