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"It is nice to have a lodger," said Mrs. Merivale. "Especially on a summer evening."

It seemed a curious preference, but there is no accounting for tastes. At the front gate Jane said good-bye.

"It was very good of you to let me take up so much of your time," she said. "I'm sorry I was late, but I missed your house and went right to the end of the road. What a pretty name Valimere is," she added, untruthfully.

"Thereby hangs a tale, Mrs. Gresham," said Mrs. Merivale.

Seeing that she wished to be encouraged, Jane encouraged her.

"When Mr. Merivale bought this house, Mrs. Gresham," said Mrs. Merivale, earnestly, "we didn't like the name. It was called Lindisfarne."

She paused. Jane said it was certainly a horrid name for a house, and was ashamed of herself for time-serving.

"That's what Mr. Merivale felt," said his relict. "So we talked it over thoroughly, till we were quite at our wits' end. But Mr. Merivale said not to worry and I went to stay with Mother for a few days for her eightieth birthday, poor old soul, and when I came back the name was on the gate."