Almost immediately, a clerk in the Electricity Trust, George Clair, took his place beside her.

Fair, thin, and supple, he had features of a feminine delicacy; he was scarcely older than she, and looked still younger.

As they met almost every day in this place, a comradeship had sprung up between them, and they enjoyed chatting together.

But their conversation had never been tender, affectionate, or even intimate.

Caroline, although it had happened to her in the past to repent of her confidence, might perhaps have been less reserved had not George Clair always shown himself extremely restrained in his expressions and behaviour.