"Are you an English girl?"

Innocent flushed a sudden rosy red.

"Yes. I was brought up in the country, but all my people are dead
now. I have no friends, but I have a little money left to me--and
for the rest--I must earn my own living."

"Well, my dear, that won't hurt you!" and an encouraging smile
brightened Miss Leigh's pleasantly wrinkled face. "You shall see
the rooms. But you have not told me your name yet."

Again Innocent blushed.

"My name is Armitage," she said, in a low, hesitating tone--"Ena
Armitage."

"Armitage!"--Miss Leigh repeated the name with a kind of wondering
accent--"Armitage? Are you any relative of the painter, Pierce
Armitage?"

The girl's heart beat quickly--for a moment the little drawing-
room seemed to whirl round her--then she collected her forces with
a strong effort and answered--"No!"

The old lady's wistful blue eyes, dimmed with age, yet retaining a
beautiful tenderness of expression, rested upon her anxiously.

"You are quite sure?"