Though she knew so little of Mr.
Orme, she felt that she could trust him.
So she sat almost silent, thinking of what Jessie had told her, and wondering why Stafford Orme should leave the gay party at the Villa to ride with her.

Once only in the course of the meal did her father speak.

He looked up suddenly, with a quick, almost cunning, glance, and said: "Can you let me have some money, Ida?
I want to order some books.
There's a copy of the Percy 'Reliques' in the catalogue I should like to buy." "How much is it, father ?" she asked.
"Oh, five pounds will do," he said, vaguely.

"There are one or two other books." She made a hasty calculation: five pounds was a large sum to her; but she smiled as she said: "You are very extravagant, dear.

There is already a copy of the 'Reliques' in the library." He looked confused for a moment, then he said: "But not with these notes--not with these notes! They're valuable, and the book is cheap." "Very well, dear," she responded; and she went to the antique bureau and, unlocking it, took a five-pound note from a cedar box.
He watched her covertly, with a painful eagerness.
"I suppose you have a large nest egg there, eh, Ida ?" he remarked, with a quavering laugh.
"No: a very little one," she responded.