‘How lucky you are! I have no brothers or sisters; I have only my uncle. How I wish I knew your sister! And Margaret is such a pretty name.’
‘It is common enough, anyway.’
‘But not commonplace; oh! not at all commonplace. If I had a sister I would call her Margaret, whatever her real name might be. By the way, have you seen Mr. Semple since that night of the dinner-party?’
‘No.’
‘And you don’t seem very sorry for it?’ said the girl, with a little smile.
‘No; I can’t say I care much for Cousin James.’
‘He is a relation of Mr. Lindsay, too, isn’t he?’
‘Yes; his mother was a Lindsay, a niece of my grand-uncle’s. He is in the oil-works; and I dare say he will become manager of them some day.’
Miss Mowbray was silent for a few moments; then she stopped and hesitated.
‘Do you know, I don’t think I ought to allow you to walk with me in this way. Suppose we were to meet anyone we knew!’