"Yes, but very feeble, poor old fellow. He forgets even to be angry with the baker's boy."
Cecily laughed with a moved playfulness.
"He has forgotten me. I don't like to be forgotten by any one who ever cared for me."
There was a pause. They came back into the room, and Cecily, with a look of hesitation, asked quietly,—
"Have you heard of late from Reuben?"
Miriam, with averted eyes, answered simply, "No." Again there was silence, until Cecily, moving about the room, came to the "St. Cecilia."
"So my patron saint is always before you. I am glad of that. Where is the original of this picture, Miriam? I forget."
"I never knew."
"Oh, I wished to speak to you of Mr. Mallard. You met him yesterday. Had you much conversation?"
"A good deal. He dined with us."