ped, looking vaguely about her. Perhaps she had
it in her mind to return home by omnibus, and was dreading the expense.
Yet of a sudden she turned and went up the approach to the railway.

At the entrance again she stopped. Her features were now working in the
strangest way, as though a difficulty of breathing had assailed her. In
her eyes was an eager yet frightened look; her lips stood apart.

Another quick movement, and she entered the station. She went straight
to the door of the refreshment room, and looked in through the glass.
Two or three people were standing inside. She drew back, a tremor
passing through her.

A lady came out. Then again Virginia approached the door. Two men only
were within, talking together. With a hurried, nervous movement, she
pushed the door open and went up to a part of the counter as far as
possible from the two customers. Bending forward, she said to the
barmaid in a voice just above a whisper,--

'Kindly give me a little brandy.'

Beads of perspiration were on her face, which had turned to a ghastly
pallor. The barmaid, concluding that she was ill, served her promptly
and with a sympathetic look.

Virginia added to the spirit twice its quantity of water, standing, as
she did so, half turned from the bar. Then she sipped hurriedly two or
three times, and at length took a draught. Colour flowed to her cheeks;
her eyes lost their frightened glare. Another draught finished the
stimulant. She hastily wiped her lips, and walked away with firm step.

In the meantime a threatening cloud had passed from the sun; warm rays
fell upon the street and its clamorous life. Virginia felt tired in
body, but a delightful animation, rarest of boons, gave her new
strength. She walked into Trafalgar Square and viewed it like a person
who stands there for the first time, smiling, interested. A quarter of
an hour passed whilst she merely enjoyed the air, the sunshine, and the
scene about her. Such a quarter of an hour--so calm, contented,
unconsciously hopeful--as she had not known since Alice's coming to
London.

She reached the house by half-past one, bringing in a paper bag
something which was to serve for dinner. Alice had a wretched
appearance; her head ached worse than ever.

'Virgie,' she moaned, 'we never took account of illness, you know.'

'Oh, we must keep that off,' replied the other, sitting down with a
look of exhaustion. She smiled, but no longer as in the sunlight of
Trafalgar Squ