her that afternoon--or what do you say to a
walk in Regent's Park? Perhaps we could talk there more
easily--I'll meet you at the entrance to the Botanical Gardens
about 3.30 unless I hear from you.

Yours sincerely,

E. RAND."

II

The effect upon him of Roddy's accident was indescribable. He was sorry,
terribly sorry--dreadful for a man whose whole interests are in physical
things to be laid on his back, like this, for ever. Surely it would be
better for him to die, and then, at that, sober thought would forsake
him--He did not wish Seddon to die, but around the possibility of it,
always turning, wheeling, his mind fluttered.

He did not know what Lizzie would have to say to him, but, at his heart,
he expected triumph--with so little encouragement, he would wait so
faithfully--

It was a cold windy afternoon of early spring and up to the gates of the
Botanical Gardens little eddies came sweeping: twigs and dust and pieces
of paper tossing, under a grey sky, beneath branches that creaked and
strained; Breton stood there impatiently; he was ten minutes before his
time; this biting windy world took from him his confidence ... a dirty
little brown dog walked round and round, wagging, now and again, a
pessimistic tail.

There at last she was, coming, as orderly and neat as ever, up the road;
her grey dress, her little shining shoes, her hair that no breeze could
disturb, her expression as though she were ready for anything and would
be surprised at nothing--these all, to-day, irritated him. Good heavens!
was she so surely tied to her typewriter that she could understand
nothing of the emotions that an ordinary human being might be feeling?
Had she no imagination? Because she had never herself known sentiment
about anyone alive was it beyond her to consider what others might
encounter?

Breton would have preferred any other ambassador in this affair than the
neat, efficient Miss Rand, forgetting that there had been a time when he
had chosen her as his one and only confidante.

"How do you do, Mr. Breton?" she said, giving him her little gloved
hand.

"It's just struck--I was a little early," he answered, feeling confused
and hating himself for his confusion--

"Let's go round to the left here and turn over the bridge and then out
past the Zoo and back--That makes quite a good round."

"Yes"--he said.

"I chose the Park because I thought that we could talk better--We might
have be