"Why shouldn't he be? His family was one of the most prominent in the village."
"Ah, just so!" said Abel, complacently, for he felt that this made his mother's position the stronger.
"I suppose you wonder who I am," said Abel, after a pause.
"I suppose you are a friend of the family."
"I should say I was. I am Mrs. Lane's son."
This surprised John, for Gerald had neglected to tell him the information he had only just obtained himself.
"I never heard Gerald speak of you," he said, half incredulous.
"Gerald knew nothing about me."
"How is that?"
"Mother and Mr. Lane thought it best not to tell him."