"One doesn't often see the famous actresses of past days," he proceeded, "so well represented on the walls of an English house." This time, he had spoken to better purpose.

Mrs.Vimpany answered him in words.
"I have many pleasant associations with the theatre," she said, "first formed in the time of my girlhood." Mountjoy waited to hear something more.

Nothing more was said.

Perhaps this reticent lady disliked looking back through a long interval of years, or perhaps she had her reasons for leaving Mountjoy's guess at the truth still lost in doubt.

In either case, she deliberately dropped the subject.