And he judged from the
curious, scrutinizing look which Mr. Carless gave the two young people as
they shook hands that the same idea struck him--Mr. Carless wound up that
look in a significant glance at Mr. Pawle, to whom he suddenly muttered a
few words which Viner caught.
"By Jove!" he whispered. "I shouldn't wonder if you're right."
Then he placed Miss Wickham in an easy-chair on his right hand, and cast
a preliminary benevolent glance on her.
"Mr. Pawle," he began, "has told us of your relationship with the late
Mr. Ashton--you always regarded him as your guardian?"
"He was my guardian," answered Miss Wickham. "My father left me in
his charge."
"Just so. Now, have you any recollection of your father?"
"Only very vague recollections. I was scarcely six, I think, when he
died."
"What do you remember about him?"
"I think he was a tall, handsome man--I have some impression that he
was. I think, too, that he had a fair complexion and hair. But it's all
very vague."
"Do you remember where you lived?"
"Only that it was in a very big town--Melbourne, of course. I have
recollections of busy streets--I remember, too, that when I left there it
was very, very hot weather.
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