d quietly out. She had seen Jean looking over the gallery
railing with serious eyes, and Stuart standing by a pillar with a group
of fellow-students, his face pale and tense. She dared not risk
meeting them or anyone else she knew. She hurried down the stairs and
out along the street struggling for her self-control. Half consciously
her footsteps turned in the direction of that little street where she
had seen the girl that looked like Eppie. The tumult of
self-accusation within drove her to immediate action. She would go
down there at once and see that girl, and help and comfort her, and
perhaps--even though she had wandered so far away, she might prove the
speaker's words true--she might find the Vision return. Choking back
her sobs she hurried along. The memory of the sad sight, that pitiful
ill-clad girl striving to comfort the still more pitiful old man
driving her forward as if with a whip.

The twilight had fallen and the dingy street looked even more gloomy.
She was terrified by the glimpses of rough-looking men and slatternly
women, by the loud voices and the sounds of violence that issued from
many of the houses. But her fear did not once make her think of
turning back. Her soul now recognized the fact that there were things
more to be dreaded in the life of uselessness from which she was
fleeing.

She turned down the dark alley from which she had seen the girl emerge,
stumbling over heaps of garbage. Even in her terror she had a faint
sense of grim enjoyment at the thought of how horrified Mr. Huntley
would be could he know. She almost hated him for his solicitous care
of her when she compared it with his indifference to these ragged
shrill-voiced women about her. She paused at length before one of the
low hovels and timidly knocked. At the same moment the door suddenly
opened and a young man came lounging heavily out. By the light from
the doorway Elizabeth caught a glimpse of a heavy brutal face, as he
slouched past her. She started back, about to run, but stopped. Just
beyond him in the doorway stood the girl she sought. The pale light of
a flickering gas jet above her head revealed her face. There was no
mistaking her now. Elizabeth forgot her fears and went forward with a
joyful little run.

"Eppie!" she cried, "oh, Eppie! Do you know me?"

The girl stood staring.

"Is it?--Is it you--Lizzie?" she whispered.

"Yes--it's Lizzie. May I come in, Eppie?"

The girl shrank back a