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should never see him again。 He too then understood now： he had
made out that she had secrets and reasons and impediments； that
even a poor girl at the P。O。 might have her complications。 With
the charm she had cast on him lightened by distance he had suffered
a final delicacy to speak to him； had made up his mind that it
would be only decent to let her alone。 Never so much as during
these latter days had she felt the precariousness of their
relationthe happy beautiful untroubled original one； if it could
only have been restoredin which the public servant and the casual
public only were concerned。 It hung at the best by the merest
silken thread； which was at the mercy of any accident and might
snap at any minute。 She arrived by the end of the fortnight at the
highest sense of actual fitness； never doubting that her decision
was now complete。 She would just give him a few days more to come
back to her on a proper impersonal basisfor even to an
embarrassing representative of the casual public a public servant
with a conscience did owe somethingand then would signify to Mr。
Mudge that she was ready for the little home。 It had been visited；
in the further talk she had had with him at Bournemouth； from
garret to cellar； and they had especially lingered； with their
respectively darkened brows； before the niche into which it was to
be broached to her mother that she must find means to fit。
He had put it to her more definitely than before that his
calculations had allowed for that dingy presence； and he had
thereby marked the greatest impression he had ever made on her。 It
was a stroke superior even again to his handling of the drunken
soldier。 What she considered that in the face of it she hung on at
Cocker's for was something she could only have described as the
common fairness of a last word。 Her actual last word had been；
till it should be superseded； that she wouldn't forsake her other
friend； and it stuck to her through thick and thin that she was
still at her post and on her honour。 This other friend had shown
so much beauty of conduct already that he would surely after all
just re…appear long enough to relieve her； to give her something
she could take away。 She saw it； caught it； at times； his parting
present； and there were moments when she felt herself sitting like
a beggar with a hand held out to almsgiver who only fumbled。 She
hadn't taken the sovereigns； but she WOULD take the penny。 She
heard； in imagination； on the counter； the ring of the copper。
〃Don't put yourself out any longer；〃 he would say； 〃for so bad a
case。 You've done all there is to be done。 I thank and acquit and
release you。 Our lives take us。 I don't know muchthough I've
really been interestedabout yours； but I suppose you've got one。
Mine at any rate will take MEand where it will。 Heigh…ho！ Good…
bye。〃 And then once more； for the sweetest faintest flower of all：
〃Only； I saysee here！〃 She had framed the whole picture with a
squareness that included also the image of how again she would
decline to 〃see there；〃 decline； as she might say； to see anywhere；
see anything。 Yet it befell that just in the fury of this escape
she saw more than ever。
He came back one night with a rush； near the moment of their
closing； and showed her a face so different and new； so upset and
anxious； that almost anything seemed to look out of it but clear
recognition。 He poked in a telegram very much as if the simple
sense of pressure； the distress of extreme haste； had blurred the
remembrance of where in particular he was。 But as she met his eyes
a light came； it broke indeed on the spot into a positive conscious
glare。 That made up for everything； since it was an instant
proclamation of the celebrated 〃danger〃； it seemed to pour things
out in a flood。 〃Oh yes； here it isit's upon me at last！
Forget； for God's sake； my having worried or bored you； and just
help me； just SAVE me； by getting this off without the loss of a
second！〃 Something grave had clearly occurred； a crisis declared
itself。 She recognised immediately the person to whom the telegram
was addressedthe Miss Dolman of Parade Lodge to whom Lady Bradeen
had wired； at Dover； on the last occasion； and whom she had then；
with her recollection of previous arrangements； fitted into a
particular setting。 Miss Dolman had figured before and not figured
since； but she was now the subject of an imperative appeal。
〃Absolutely necessary to see you。 Take last train Victoria if you
can catch it。 If not； earliest morning； and answer me direct
either way。〃
〃Reply paid？〃 said the girl。 Mr。 Buckton had just departed and the
counter…clerk was at the sounder。 There was no other
representative of the public； and she had never yet； as it seemed
to her； not even in the street or in the Park； been so alone with
him。
〃Oh yes； reply paid； and as sharp as possible； please。〃
She affixed the stamps in a flash。 〃She'll catch the train！〃 she
then declared to him breathlessly； as if she could absolutely
guarantee it。
〃I don't knowI hope so。 It's awfully important。 So kind of you。
Awfully sharp； please。〃 It was wonderfully innocent now； his
oblivion of all but his danger。 Anything else that had ever passed
between them was utterly out of it。 Well； she had wanted him to be
impersonal！
There was less of the same need therefore； happily； for herself；
yet she only took time； before she flew to the sounder； to gasp at
him： 〃You're in trouble？〃
〃Horrid； horridthere's a row！〃 But they parted； on it； in the
next breath； and as she dashed at the sounder； almost pushing； in
her violence； the counter…clerk off the stool； she caught the bang
with which； at Cocker's door； in his further precipitation； he
closed the apron of the cab into which he had leaped。 As he
rebounded to some other precaution suggested by his alarm； his
appeal to Miss Dolman flashed straight away。
But she had not； on the morrow； been in the place five minutes
before he was with her again； still more discomposed and quite；
now； as she said to herself； like a frightened child coming to its
mother。 Her companions were there； and she felt it to be
remarkable how； in the presence of his agitation； his mere scared
exposed nature； she suddenly ceased to mind。 It came to her as it
had never come to her before that with absolute directness and
assurance they might carry almost anything off。 He had nothing to
sendshe was sure he had been wiring all overand yet his
business was evidently huge。 There was nothing but that in his
eyesnot a glimmer of reference or memory。 He was almost haggard
with anxiety and had clearly not slept a wink。 Her pity for him
would have given her any courage； and she seemed to know at last
why she had been such a fool。 〃She didn't come？〃 she panted。
〃Oh yes； she came； but there has been some mistake。 We want a
telegram。〃
〃A telegram？〃
〃One that was se