the last minute of her talk with Mr. Cannon;
she had gone to sleep while reconstituting those instants. But now their
memory left her indifferent, even inspired repugnance. And her remorse
little by little lost its mysterious beauty.

She clung to the idea of the reassuring letter which she would receive.
That was her sole glint of consolation.

II

At six she was abroad in the house, intensely alive, intensely conscious
of every particle of her body, and of every tiniest operation of her
mind. In less than two hours the letter would drop into the lobby! At
half-past six both she and Florrie were dressed, and Florrie, stern with
the solemnity and importance of her mission, was setting forth to the
Saracen's Head to order a cab to be at the door at eight o'clock.

Hilda had much to do, for it was of course necessary to shut up the
house, and the packing of her trunk had to be finished, and the trunk
locked and corded, and a label found; and there was breakfast to cook.
Mrs. Lessways would have easily passed a couple of days in preparing the
house for closure. Nevertheless, time, instead of flying, lagged. At
seven-thirty Hilda, in the partially dismantled parlour, and Florrie in
the kitchen, were sitting down to breakfast. "In a quarter of an hour,"
said Hilda to herself, "the post will be here." But in four minutes she
had eaten the bacon and drunk the scalding tea, and in five she had
carried all the breakfast-things into the kitchen, where Florrie was
loudly munching over the sloppy deal table. She told Florrie sharply
that there would be ample time to wash up. Then she went to her bedroom,
and, dragging out her trunk, slid it unaided down the stairs. Back again
in the bedroom, she carelessly glanced at the money in her purse, and
then put on her things for the journey. Waiting, she stood at the window
to look for the postman. Presently she saw him in the distance; he
approached quickly, but spent an unendurable minute out of sight in the
shop next door. When he emerged Hilda was in anguish. Had he a letter
for her? Had he not? He seemed to waver at the gateway, and to decide to
enter.... She heard the double blow of his drumstick baton.... Now in a
few seconds she would know about her mother.

Proudly restraining herself, she walked with composure to the stairs.
She was astonished to see Florrie bending down to pick up the letter.
Florrie must have been waiting ready to rush to the front door. As she
raised he