"A question by the way—she was not curious. He had a foreign air, and she fancied might be one of Mr. Pemberton's friends—he had so many abroad."
He had, and it would be awkward not to recollect him, if he should speak.
"There's Cranleigh! he knows!"
The stranger's name was Ashlin, an early acquaintance of Mrs. Cranleigh's, and later from the West Indies.
"Had he resided there long?" Miss Read asked.
"Two years—nearly three, indeed."
Mr. Ashlin was graceful and distingué, and Ida was attacked by an unaccountable curiosity. She interrogated the bride.
"What handsome man was that, you were conversing with, awhile ago, Celestia?"
Her face was broad with smiles. "Law! why Mr. Cranleigh, my husband, to be sure! Haven't you been introduced? Here! Mr. Cran—"