me
have a <i>the complet</i> as before?"

The lady nodded, and Fraulein Anna, who evidently knew her ways, brought
in the tea at once, stayed chatting beside her for a minute, and then
departed, with a long, disapproving look at the gentleman in the corner
who was so long over his coffee and would not let her clear away.

Ashe made a fierce effort to still the thumping in his breast and decide
what he should do. For the guests there was only one door of entrance or
exit, and to reach it he must pass close beside the new-comer.

He laid down his newspaper. She heard the rustling, and involuntarily
looked round.

There was a slight sound--an exclamation. She rose. He heard and saw her
coming, and sat tranced and motionless, his eyes bent upon her. She came
tottering, clinging to the chairs, her hand on her side, till she
reached the corner where he was.

"William!" she said, with a little, glad sob, under her
breath--"William!"

He himself could not speak. He stood there gazing at her, his lips
moving without sound. It seemed to him that she turned her head a
moment, as though to look for some one beside him--with an exquisite
tremor of the mouth.

"Isn't it strange?" she said, in the same guarded voice. "I had a dream
once--a valley--and mountains--and an inn. You sat here--just like
this--and--"

She put up her hands to her eyes a moment, shivered, and withdrew them.
From her expression she seemed to be waiting for him to speak. He moved
and stood beside her.

"Where can we talk?" he said, with difficulty. She shook her head
vaguely, looking round her with that slight frown, complaining and yet
sweet, which was like a touch of fire on memory.

The waitress came back into the room.

"It <i>is</i> odd to have met you here!" said Kitty, in a laughing voice.
"Let us go into the <i>salon de lecture</i>. The maids want to clear away.
Please bring your newspaper."

Fraeulein Anna looked at them with a momentary curiosity, and went on
with her work. They passed into the passage-way outside, which was full
of smokers overflowing from the crowded room beyond, where the humbler
frequenters of the inn ate and drank.

Kitty glanced round her in bewilderment. "The <i>salon de lecture</i> will be
full, too. Where shall we go?" she said, looking up.

Ashe's hand clinched as it hung beside him. The old gesture--and the
drawn, emaciated face--they pierced the heart.

"I told my servant to arrange me a sitting-room up-