ad; and
when he was near home, another wayfarer saw him face right about and go
up Trafalgar Road and disappear at the corner of Oak Street.

The Orgreave servant was surprised to see him at the front door again
when she answered a discreet ring.

"I wish you'd tell Miss Lessways I want to speak to her a moment, will
you?"

"Miss Lessways?"

"Yes." What an adventure!

"Certainly, sir. Will you come in?" She shut the door.

"Ask her to come here," he said, smiling with deliberate confidential
persuasiveness. She nodded, with a brighter smile.

The servant vanished, and Hilda came. She was as red as fire. He began
hurriedly.

"When will you come to look over our works? To-morrow? I should like
you to come." He used a tone that said: "Now don't let's have any
nonsense! You know you want to come."

She frowned frankly. There they were in the hall, like a couple of
conspirators, but she was frowning; she would not meet him half-way. He
wished he had not permitted himself this caprice. What importance had a
private oath? He felt ridiculous.

"What time?" she demanded, and in an instant transformed his disgust
into delight.

"Any time." His heart was beating with expectation.

"Oh no! You must fix the time."

"Well, after tea. Say between half-past six and a quarter to seven.
That do?"

She nodded.

"Good," he murmured. "That's all! Thanks, Goodnight!"

He hastened away, with a delicate photograph of the palm of her hand
printed in minute sensations on the palm of his.

"I did it, anyhow!" he muttered loudly, in his heart. At any rate he
was not shamed. At any rate he was a man. The man's face was burning,
and the damp noxious chill of the night only caressed him agreeably.

VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

CURIOSITY.

He was afraid that, from some obscure motive of propriety or
self-protection, she would bring Janet with her, or perhaps Alicia. On
the other hand, he was afraid that she would come alone. That she
should come alone seemed to him, in spite of his reason, too brazen.
Moreover, if she came alone would he be equal to the situation? Would
he be able to carry the thing off in a manner adequate? He lacked
confidence. He desired the moment of her arrival, and yet he feared it.
His heart and his brain were all confused together in a turmoil of
emotion which he could not analyse nor define.

He was in love. Love had caught him, and had affected his vision so
tha