“Oh, see him by all means, dear.  He is probably anxious to talk over old times.”

“May I ask him up here?”

“No—­unless you particularly want to introduce him to me.  I dare say he would rather have you to himself.”  There was a touch of superciliousness about her tone, which Esther rather resented, although not particularly anxious for Levi’s social recognition.

“Show him into the library,” she said to the servant.  “I will be down in a minute.”  She lingered a few indifferent remarks with her companion and then went down, wondering at Levi’s precipitancy in renewing the acquaintance.  She could not help thinking of the strangeness of life.  That time yesterday she had not dreamed of Levi, and now she was about to see him for the second time and seemed to know him as intimately as if they had never been parted.

Leonard James was pacing the carpet.  His face was perturbed, though his stylishly cut clothes were composed and immaculate.  A cloak was thrown loosely across his shoulders.  In his right hand he held a bouquet of Spring flowers, which he transferred to his left in order to shake hands with her.

“Good afternoon, Esther,” he said heartily.  “By Jove, you have got among tip-top people.  I had no idea.  Fancy you ordering Jeames de la Pluche about.  And how happy you must be among all these books!  I’ve brought you a bouquet.  There!  Isn’t it a beauty?  I got it at Covent Garden this morning.”

“It’s very kind of you,” murmured Esther, not so pleased as she might have been, considering her love of beautiful things.  “But you really ought not to waste your money like that.”

“What nonsense, Esther!  Don’t forget I’m not in the position my father was.  I’m going to be a rich man.  No, don’t put it into a vase; put it in your own room where it will remind you of me.  Just smell those violets, they are awfully sweet and fresh.  I flatter myself, it’s quite as swell and tasteful as the bouquet you had last night.  Who gave you that.  Esther?” The “Esther” mitigated the off-handedness of the question, but made the sentence jar doubly upon her ear.  She might have brought herself to call him “Levi” in exchange, but then she was not certain he would like it.  “Leonard” was impossible.  So she forbore to call him by any name.

“I think Mr. Graham brought it.  Won’t you sit down?” she said indifferently.

“Thank you.  I thought so.  Luck that fellow’s engaged.  Do you know, Esther.  I didn’t sleep all night.”

“No?” said Esther.  “You seemed quite well when I saw you.”

“So I was, but seeing you again, so unexpectedly, excited me.  You have been whirling in my brain ever since.  I hadn’t thought of you for years—­”

“I hadn’t thought of you,” Esther echoed frankly.