The girl leaned back and sighed.

"Uncle, what is it that makes you such a hermit?" she asked.

"Age, perhaps, and experience," he answered, lightly. "There are not many
people in the world, Clara, who are worth while!"

"Mrs. Handsell was worth while," she murmured.

Mannering did not reply.

"And Sir Leslie Borrowdean," she continued, "was more than just worth
while. I think that he was delightful."

"Very young ladies, and very old ones," Mannering remarked, grimly,
"generally like Borrowdean."

"And what about Mrs. Handsell?" she asked, with a spice of malice in her
tone.

"Mrs. Handsell," Mannering answered, coolly, "was a very charming woman.
Since both these people have passed out of our lives, Clara, I scarcely
see why we need discuss them."

"One must talk about something," she answered. "At least I must talk, and
you must pretend to listen. I positively cannot exist in the house by
myself any longer."

"Where is Richard?" Mannering asked.