'So it seems. What do you want to do?'
'I wanted to amuse myself.'
'And don't succeed? Naturally. What made you think you would? Numismatology isn't what one would call a lively study. What were you going to do with these old things, eh?'
'Nothing,' said Esther hopelessly. 'I used to hear papa talk about them; and I liked to hear him.'
'Why don't you get him to talk to you about them again?'
'Oh, he was not talking to me.'
'To whom, then?'
Esther hesitated; the young man saw a veil of moisture suddenly dim the grave eyes, and the lips that answered him were a little unsteady.
'It was mamma,' she breathed rather than spoke.
'And you liked to hear?' he went on purposely.