He joined our party at luncheon.

Billy knew him slightly, so I made him go over and ask him." Hester nodded, and seemed to be absorbed in some trifling defect of one of the keys of her typewriter.
"Does he still ask you many questions about Mr.Mannering, mother ?" she asked, quietly.
"About Mr.Mannering!" Mrs.Phillimore repeated, with raised eyebrows.
"Why, he scarcely ever mentions his name." She took up a small mirror from the table by her side, and critically touched her hair.
"About Mr.Mannering, indeed," she repeated.

"Why do you ask me such a question ?" The girl hesitated.
"Do you really want to know, mother ?" she asked.
"Of course!" "When Mr.Mannering was here last," Hester said, "he asked me whether Sir Leslie Borrowdean was a friend of yours.

I fancy that they are political acquaintances, but I don't think that they are on very good terms." Mrs.Phillimore laid down the mirror and yawned.
"Well, there's nothing very strange about that," she declared.

"Lawrence isn't the sort to get on with many people, especially since he went and buried himself in the country.