"Oh, it is no trouble, Miss Lisle," said the girl, still standing on the threshold as if she dared not venture further.
"You know my name?" said Leslie, with a faint smile.
"Yes," said her visitor, with a nod half-grave, half-smiling, and wholly friendly and propitiatory. "Mrs. Brown told me, and—and about your trouble. I am so sorry! But," as Leslie winced, "I won't talk of that. I'll see that you have some tea."
"Will you not come in?" said Leslie.
The girl came into the room timidly, and took the chair which Leslie drew forward for her.
"I think I saw you in the hall yesterday," she said. "You are a lodger, like myself?"
"Yes. Oh, yes," replied her visitor, nodding. "And I saw you. I asked Mrs. Brown who you were, and she told me. I hope you don't think me inquisitive?" and she colored timidly.
"No. Oh, no. It was a very natural question," said Leslie. "Will you tell me your name?"
"Oh, yes. My name is Somes. Lucy Somes."
"And you are paying a visit to London?" said Leslie, trying to interest herself in this pleasant looking girl who had from sheer kindness acted as the landlady's substitute.