English friends of long ago, and Jerome Otway often came in. He
didn't know whether he was still alive. Oh, I must write and tell
him."

The ladles gave what information they could (it amounted to very
little) about the recluse of Wensleydale; then they talked of the
young man.

"We knew him at Geneva, first of all," said Mrs. Hannaford. "Indeed,
he lived with us there for. a time; he was only a boy, then, and
such a nice boy! He has changed a good deal--don't you think so,
Olga? I don't mean for the worse; not at all; but he is not so
talkative and companionable. You'll find him shy at first, I fancy."

"He works terrifically," put in Olga. "It's certain he must be
injuring his health."

"Then," exclaimed Irene, "why do you let him?"

"Let him? We have no right to interfere with a young man of
one-and-twenty."

"Surely you have, if he's behaving foolishly, to his own harm. But
what do you call terrific work?"

"All day long, and goodness knows how much of the night. Somebody
told us his light had been seen burning once at nearly three
o'clock."

"Is he at it now?" asked Irene, with a comical look towards the