‘Miss Vigo!’ said Mrs Askerton at once; and there was that in the tone of her voice which made Clara feel that all was not right with her.  ’I remember that there were Miss Vigos; two of them, I think.  I didn’t know that they were like me especially.’

‘And he says that the one he remembers married a Mr Berdmore.’

‘Married a Mr Berdmore!’ The tone of voice was still the same, and there was an evident struggle, as though the woman was making a vehement effort to speak in her natural voice.  Then Clara looked at her, feeling that if she abstained from doing so, the very fact of her so abstaining would be remarkable.  There was the look of pain on Mrs Askerton’s brow, and her cheeks were still pale, but she smiled as she went on speaking.  ’I’m sure I’m flattered, for I remember that they were both considered beauties.  Did he know anything more of her?

‘No; nothing more.’

‘There must have been some casual likeness I suppose.’  Mrs Askerton was a clever woman, and had by this time almost recovered her self-possession.  Then there came a ring at the front door, and in another minute Mr Belton was in the room.  Mrs Askerton felt that it was imperative on her to make some allusion to the conversation which had just taken place, and dashed at the subject at once.  ’Clara tells me that I am exactly like some old friend of yours, Mr Belton.’

Then he looked at her closely as he answered her.  ’I have no right to say that she was my friend, Mrs Askerton,’ he said; ’indeed there was hardly what might be called an acquaintance between us; but you certainly are extremely like a certain Miss Vigo that I remember.’

’I often wonder that one person isn’t more often found to be like another,’ said Mrs Askerton.

‘People often are like,’ said he, ’but not like in such a way as to give rise to mistakes as to identity.  Now, I should have stopped you in the street and called you Mrs Berdmore.’

‘Didn’t I once see or hear the name of Berdmore in this house?’ asked Clara.

Then that look of pain returned.  Mrs Askerton had succeeded in recovering the usual tone of her countenance, but now she was once more disturbed.  ‘I think I know the name,’ said she.

‘I fancy that I have seen it in this house,’ said Clara.  ’You may more likely have heard it, my dear.  My memory is very poor, but if I remember rightly, Colonel Askerton did know a Captain Berdmore a long while ago, before he was married; and you may probably have heard him mention the name.’  This did not quite satisfy Clara, but she said nothing more about it then.  If there was a mystery which Mrs Askerton did not wish to have explored, why should she explore it?

Soon after this Clara got up to go, and Mrs Askerton, making another attempt to be cheerful, was almost successful.  So you’re going back into Norfolk on Saturday, Clara tells me.  You are making a very short visit now that you’re come among us.’