“I’m sure she and me was always the best of friends,” answered the fair Jemima, with a touch of diplomacy; “and if you _did_ think of taking the apartments, me and mother would do all in our power to make you comfortable, if it was only on Mrs. Lesley’s account; for she was one of the sweetest young creatures I ever knew. She stayed with us three weeks before she was married; and I never shall forget her pretty face the day she first came up from the country after the lodgings had been took for her.” “Mr. Lesley engaged the lodgings, I suppose?” “No, it was Mr. Lesley’s brother.” “Oh, he had a brother, then?” “Yes, his brother was something in the law, I think--a very nice gentleman, and almost the living image of Mr. Lesley himself.” “Can you give me a description of Mr. Lesley? I never saw him, and I want very much to know what kind of man he is.” Miss Banks hesitated for some moments. “It’s so difficult to give an exact description of any one,” she said. “Mr. Lesley was a tall, handsome-looking man, with fair hair and blue eyes. I don’t think I could describe him any nearer than that.” Francis Tredethlyn sighed. There are so many tall, handsome-looking men with fair hair and blue eyes! and it is chiefly in melodrama that people go about the world conveniently marked with a strawberry or a coronet. “Answer me one question,” said Francis, eagerly, “before you tell me the rest of my cousin’s history. Do you know where she is now?” Miss Banks shook her head, and sighed despondently. “No more than you do, sir,” she exclaimed. “It’s two years and a half ago since I set eyes upon Mrs. Lesley, and I don’t know no more than the dead what’s become of her since.” “Then she’s as much lost to me to-day as she was yesterday,” said Francis, sadly. “But you can at least tell me all you know of my poor cousin. It may help me to some clue by which to find her.” Jemima was evidently a good-natured girl. She begged Mr. Tredethlyn to be seated, and placed herself opposite to him. “I’ll call mother if you like,” she said; “but I think I can tell you more about Mrs. Lesley; mother is such a one to wander, and when one’s anxious to know anything quick, it don’t do to have to deal with a person whose mind’s always harping upon lodgers and their ways. Of course everybody knows lodgers are tiresome, and nobody lets apartments for pleasure, and nobody would pay taxes if they could help it, and poor-rates are not expected to raise people’s spirits; but if facts are disagreeable, that’s no reason you should have them cropping up promiscuous in every style of conversation. Till now it used to be a relief to me to come and sit with Mrs. Lesley of an evening, and hear _her_ troubles, if it was only for the sake of a change.”