"I got news of him from time to time, though I don't mean to tell you how," answered Jane Gilman with a cunning smile. "But I've been away for the last three years, and so I didn't know that Jed had gone off."
"You must be disappointed not to find him."
"So I am. It seems so long since I've seen the dear child," and Jane drew out a handkerchief of ample size and pressed it to her tearless eyes. "Is he a nice-looking boy?"
"He has a fine, frank, open face, but you'll excuse my saying that he doesn't resemble you in the least."
"No," answered Jane, not the least bit disconcerted. "He didn't look like the Gilmans, but like his ma's family."
"What was his mother's maiden name?"
"Fenwick," responded Jane Gilman, having no suspicion that Mrs. Avery had heard the name before.
Mrs. Avery started.
"I've heard that name before," she said.