smile, and,
again in some way I am unable to explain, reminded me of my first wife.
It was not till the pelican put down his other leg and walked away that
Mr. Parable, turning his gaze westward, became aware of the lady's
presence.

From information that has subsequently come to my knowledge, I am
prepared to believe that Mr. Parable, from the beginning, really
thought the lady was a friend of his. What the lady thought is a
matter for conjecture; I can only speak to the facts. Mr. Parable
looked at the lady once or twice. Indeed, one might say with truth
that he kept on doing it. The lady, it must be admitted, behaved for a
while with extreme propriety; but after a time, as I felt must happen,
their eyes met, and then it was I heard her say:

"Good evening, Mr. Parable."

She accompanied the words with the same peculiar smile to which I have
already alluded. The exact words of Mr. Parable's reply I cannot
remember. But it was to the effect that he had thought from the first
that he had known her but had not been quite sure. It was at this
point that, thinking I saw my colleague approaching, I went to meet
him. I found I was mistaken, and slowly retraced my steps. I passed
Mr. Parable and the lady. They were talking together with what I
should describe as animation. I went as far as the southern extremity
of the suspension bridge, and must have waited there quite ten minutes
before returning eastward. It was while I was passing behind them on
the grass, partially screened by the rhododendrons, that I heard Mr.
Parable say to the lady:

"Why shouldn't we have it together?"

To which the lady replied:

"But what about Miss Clebb?"

I could not overhear what followed, owing to their sinking their
voices. It seemed to be an argument. It ended with the young lady
laughing and then rising. Mr. Parable also rose, and they walked off
together. As they passed me I heard the lady say:

"I wonder if there's any place in London where you're not likely to be
recognised."

Mr. Parable, who gave me the idea of being in a state of growing
excitement, replied quite loudly:

"Oh, let 'em!"

I was following behind them when the lady suddenly stopped.

"I know!" she said. "The Popular Cafe."

The park-keeper said he was convinced he would know the lady again,
having taken particular notice of her. She had brown eyes and was
wearing a black hat supplemented with poppies.

*