“ He didn’t believe it, then.”

“Yes he did⁠—when I could get him to talk seriously about it, and when I made him remember how Mr. Jadwin had spoken in the carriage coming home.”

Laura curled her leg under her and sat nursing her foot and looking into the fire. For a long time neither spoke. A little clock of brass and black marble began to chime, very prettily, the half hour of nine. Mrs. Cressler observed:

“That Sheldon Corthell seems to be a very agreeable kind of a young man, doesn’t he?”

“Yes,” replied Laura thoughtfully, “he is agreeable.”