When they had found a pleasant spot to rest awhile before turning
back, Waymark made up his mind to fulfil his promise to Julian.
"It's rather strange," he said, "that you should have been asking me
questions about Mrs. Casti. Since then I've discovered that you
probably know her, or once did."
Ida looked surprised.
"Do you remember once having a schoolfellow called Harriet Smales?"
"Is that _her_ name?"
"It was, before her marriage."
Ida became grave, and thought for some moments before speaking
again.
"Yes, I remember her," she said, "and not pleasantly."
"You wouldn't care to renew her acquaintance then?" said Waymark,
half glad, in spite of himself, that she spoke in this way.
Ida asked, with earnestness, how he had made this discovery. Waymark
hesitated, but at length told the truth. He explained that Mrs.
Casti suffered from the want of companionship, and that he had
mentioned Ida's name to Julian; whence the discovery.
"Has _she_ been told about me?" asked Ida.
"Nothing was to be said till I had spoken to you."
Waymark paused, but presently continued in a more serious tone. In
recurring to that conversation with Julian, his friend's trouble
spoke strongly to him once more, and overcame selfish thoughts.
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