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mplete。 This he loaded in the cab； and felt quite prudent after it。 The prudence of youth！
He paid off the cab in Pembroke Street； and set about the task of discovering Julia。 He inquired at several houses； but was unsuccessful。 Then he walked slowly all down the street； looking up at all the windows。 And I think； if he had done this the day before； he might have seen her； or she him： she was so often at the window now。 But just then she had company to keep her in order。
He was unlucky in another respect。 Edward came out of No。 66 and went up the street； when he himself was going down it not so very many yards off。 If Alfred's face had only been turned the other way he would have seen Edward； and all would have gone differently。
The stoutest hearts have their moments of weakness and deep dejection。 Few timings are more certain； and less realised by ordinary men than this； from Palissy fighting with Enamel to Layard disinterring a city； this thing is so。
Unable to find Julia in the very street she inhabited； Alfred felt weak against fate。 He said to himself； 〃If I find her； I shall perhaps wish I had never sought her。〃
In his hour of dejection stern reason would be heard； and asked him whether all Mrs。 Archbold had said could be pure invention； and he was obliged to confess that was too unlikely。 Then he felt so sick at heart he was half minded to turn and fly the street。 But there was a large yard close by him； entered by a broad and lofty gateway cut through one of the houses。 The yard belonged to a dealer in hay： two empty waggons were there； but no men visible； being their dinner…time。 Alfred slipped in here； and sat down on the shaft of a waggon； and let his courage ooze。 He sighed； and sighed； and feared to know his fate。 And so he sat with his face in his hands unmanned。
Presently a strain of music broke on his ear。 It seemed to come from the street。 He raised his head to listen。 He coloured； his eyes sparkled； he stole out on tiptoe with wondering； inquiring face into the street。 Once there； he stood spell…bound； thrilling from his heart； that seemed now on fire； to his fingers' ends。 For a heavenly voice was singing to the piano； just above his head； singing in earnest； making the very street ring。 Already listeners were gathering； and a woman of the people said； 〃It's a soul singing without a body。〃 Amazing good things are said in the streets。 The voice was the voice of Julia； the song was Aileen Aroon； the hymn of constancy。 So sudden and full was the bliss； which poured into the long and sore…tried listener at this sudden answer to his fears； that tears of joy trembled in his eyes。 〃'Wretch that I was to doubt her；〃 he said： and unable to contain his longing； unable to wait and listen even to that which had changed his griefs and doubts into rapture； he was at the door in a moment。 A servant opened it： 〃Miss Dodd？〃 he said； or rather panted； 〃you need not announce me。 I am an old acquaintance。〃 He could not bear any one should see the meeting between him and his beloved； he went up the steep and narrow stair； guided by the hymn of constancy。
He stopped at the door； his heart was beating so violently。
Then he turned the handle softly； and stepped into the drawing…room； it was a double room： he took two steps and was in the opening； and almost at Julia's back。
Two young clergymen were bending devotedly one on each side of her； it was to them she was singing the hymn of constancy。
Alfred started back as if he had been stung； and the music stopped dead short。
For she had heard his step； and； womanlike； was looking into her companions' eyes first； to see if her ear had deceived her。 What she saw there brought her slowly round with a wild look。 Her hands rose toward her face； and she shrank away sideways from him as if he was a serpent； and her dilated eyes looked over her cringing shoulder at him； and she was pale and red and pale and red a dozen times in as many seconds。
He eyed her sorrowfully and sternly； taking for shame that strange mixture of emotions which possessed her。 And so they met。 Strange meeting for two true lovers； who had parted last upon their wedding eve。
No doubt； if they had been alone； one or other would have spoken directly； but the situation was complicated by the presence of two rivals； and this tied their tongues。 They devoured one another with their eyes in silence； and then Julia rose slowly to her feet； and began to tremble from head to foot； as she looked at him。
〃Is this intrusion agreeable to you； Miss Dodd？〃 said Mr。 Hurd respectfully； by way of courting her。 She made no reply； but only looked wildly at Alfred still； and quivered visibly。
〃Pray； sir；〃 said Alfred； turning on Mr。 Hurd； 〃have you any right to interfere between us two？〃
〃None whatever；〃 said Julia hastily。 〃Mr。 Hurd； I need no one： I will permit no one to say a word to him。 Mr。 Hardie knows he cannot enter a house where I amwithout an explanation。〃
〃What； before a couple of curates？〃
〃Do not be insolent to my friends； sir；〃 said Julia； panting。
This wounded Alfred deeply。 〃Oh； as you please；〃 said he。 〃Only if you put me on my defence before strangers； I shall； perhaps； put you to the blush before them。〃
〃Why do you come here； sir？〃 said Julia； not deigning to notice his threat。
〃To see my betrothed。〃
〃Oh； indeed！〃 said she bitterly； 〃in that case why have you postponed your visit so long？〃
〃I was in prison。〃
〃In prison？〃
〃In the worst of all prisons； where I was put because I loved you； where I was detained because I persisted in loving you； you faithless； inconstant girl。〃
He choked at these words； she smileda faint； uncertain smile。 It died away； and she shook her head； and said sadly
〃Defend yourself； and then call me as many names as you like。 Where was this prison？〃
〃It was an asylum： a madhouse。〃
The girl stared at him bewildered。 He put his hand into his pocket and took Peggy's letter。 〃Read that；〃 he said。 She held it in her hand； and looked him in the face to divine the contents。 〃Read it；〃 said he； almost fiercely； 〃that was the decoy。〃 She held it shaking in her hands； and stared at it。 I don't know whether she read it or not。
He went on： 〃The same villain who defrauded your father of his money； robbed me of my wife and my liberty： that Silverton House was a lunatic asylum； and ever since then （Oh； Julia； the agony of that day） I have been confined in one or other of those hells； sane amongst the mad； till Drayton House took fire； and I escaped： for what？ To be put on my defence； by you。 What have you suffered from our separations compared with the manifold anguish I have endured； that you dare to receive the most injured and constant of mankind like this； you who have had your liberty all this time； and have consoled yourself for my absence with a couple of curates？〃
〃For shame；〃 said Julia； blushing to the forehead； yet smiling in a way her companions could not understand。
〃Miss Dodd； will you put up with these insults？〃 said Mr。 Hurd。
〃Ay； and a thousand more；〃 cried Julia； radiant； 〃and thank Heaven for them； they prove his sincerity。 You； who have thought proper to stay and hear me insult my betrothed； and put my