As if all accidentally and absently he bent again over the portrait of Nanda.

"Lady Julia was exquisite and this child's exactly like her." Vanderbank, more and more conscious of something working in him, was more and more interested.

"If Nanda's so like her, WAS she so exquisite ?" "Oh yes; every one was agreed about that." Mr.Longdon kept his eyes on the face, trying a little, Vanderbank even thought, to conceal his own.
"She was one of the greatest beauties of her day." "Then IS Nanda so like her ?" Vanderbank persisted, amused at his friend's transparency.
"Extraordinarily.

Her mother told me all about her." "Told you she's as beautiful as her grandmother ?" Mr.Longdon turned it over.

"Well, that she has just Lady Julia's expression.