"I remember he always used to be rather erratic.

Well, if he means settling, he's made himself a very cosy nest." He looked round the magnificent room with a curious smile.

"A wonderful man, your father, Mr.Orme!" "Yes ?" said Stafford, with a non-committal smile.
"Yes; of course, I've heard of his great doings--who hasn't! Did you ever hear him speak of me--we were great friends one time ?" "No, I don't think I have," replied Stafford.

"But as I was telling Miss Falconer, I have not seen very much of him." "Ah, yes, just so," assented Mr.Falconer, and he went on with his dinner.
Stafford had taken a seat at the table and poured out a glass of wine so that they might not hurry; but he felt that he need not have been anxious on that account, for the girl ate her dinner in a most leisurely manner, talking to him in her soft, slow voice and looking at him from under her half-closed lids.

She talked of the scenery, of the quaint inns and hotels they had put up at, of the various inconveniences which she had suffered on the way; then suddenly she raised her lids and looked at him fully and steadily.
"I suppose the young lady we saw with you this morning is your sister ?" With all his natural simplicity, Stafford was a man of the world, and he did not redden or look embarrassed by the suddenness of the question and the direct gaze of the luminous eyes.
"No," he said.