little hesitation, and Jocelyn caught at the name.

"Armitage?--Yes--he was beginning to be rather famous some five-
and-twenty years ago--I wonder what became of him? He promised
great things. By the way"--and he turned to Innocent--"YOUR name
is Armitage! Any relation to him?"

The colour rushed to her cheeks and fled again, leaving her very
pale.

"No," she answered.

He looked at her inquisitively.

"Well, Armitage is not as outlandish a name as Amadis de Jocelyn,"
he said--"You will hardly find two of ME!--and I expect I shall
hardly find two of YOU!" and he smiled--"especially if what I have
heard is anything more than rumour!"

Her eyes filled with an eager light.

"What do you mean?"

He laughed,--yet in himself was conscious of a certain
embarrassment.

"Well!--that a certain 'Innocent' young lady is a great author!"
he said--"There! You have it! I'm loth to believe it, and hope the
report isn't true, for I'm afraid of clever women! Indeed I avoid
them whenever I can!"