time--sometimes. Is Leighton a common name?"

"Not as common as some," said Lewis. "Why?"

"Nothing, only I know some Leightons in Brazil."

Lady Derl saw Lewis start, and quickly lay down his fork. She watched in
vain through the rest of that dinner for a conversational sensation at
his end of the table. When they were in the carriage and on the way home
she asked:

"Well, what was it?"

"What was what?" said Lewis, out of a reverie.

"What did that Senhora What's-her-name have to tell you that made you
forget to eat?"

"She was telling me about an old pal of mine," said Lewis. "Did dad ever
tell you where he found me?"

"Yes," said Lady Derl; "he said he found you in the geometrical center
of nowhere, surrounded by equal parts of wilderness."

"That's what he thought," said Lewis; "but there was a home tucked into
the wilderness. It had been my home for a great many years. People had
been kind to me there--Mrs. Leighton; Natalie, my pal; an old darky
named just mammy; and, in a way, the Reverend Orme. After I'd been away
a year, I wrote back. They had gone. I've just found out where they are,
all but the Reverend Orme. I reckon he must be dead."