I shall say nothing about it; I mean, as you uttered the name unintentionally.' There was a pause in the dialogue.

They had been speaking almost confidentially, and Marian seemed to become suddenly aware of an oddness in the situation.

She turned towards the uphill path, as if thinking of resuming her walk.
'You are tired of standing still,' said Jasper.

'May I walk back a part of the way with you ?' 'Thank you; I shall be glad.' They went on for a few minutes in silence.
'Have you published anything with your signature, Miss Yule ?' Jasper at length inquired.
'Nothing.

I only help father a little.' The silence that again followed was broken this time by Marian.
'When you chanced to mention Mr Reardon's name,' she said, with a diffident smile in which lay that suggestion of humour so delightful upon a woman's face, 'you were going to say something more about him ?' 'Only that--' he broke off and laughed.