began to work his way down the room. Groups were
forming and breaking up in the general movement of the crowd, and the
dissolving of one brought him face to face with Elizabeth Carewe, who
was moving slowly in the opposite direction, a small flock of suitors in
her train.

The confrontation came so suddenly and so unexpectedly that, before
either was aware, they looked squarely into each other's eyes, full and
straight, and both stopped instantly as though transfixed, Miss Betty
leaving a sentence forever half-complete. There was a fierce, short
vocal sound from the crowd behind Vanrevel; but no one noticed Mr.
Carewe; and then Tom bowed gravely, as in apology for blocking the way,
and passed on.

Miss Betty began to talk again, much at random, with a vivacity too
greatly exaggerated to be genuine, while the high color went from her
cheeks and left her pale. Nothing could have enraged her more with
herself than the consciousness, now suddenly strong within her, that the
encounter had a perceptible effect upon her. What power had this man to
make her manner strained and mechanical? What right had his eyes always
to stir her as they did? It was not he for whom she had spent an hour
over her hair; not he for whom she had driven her poor handmaiden away
in tears: that was for one who had not come, one great in heart and
goodness, one of a pure and sacrificial life who deserved all she could
give, and for whose sake she had honored herself in trying to look as
pretty as she could. He had not come; and that hurt her a little, but
she felt his generosity, believing that his motive was to spare her,
since she could not speak to him in Mr Carewe's presence without open
and public rupture with her father. Well, she was almost ready for that,
seeing how little of a father hers was! Ah! that other should have come,
if only to stand between her and this tall hypocrite whose dark glance
had such strength to disturb her. What lies that gaze contained, all
in the one flash!--the strange pretence of comprehending her gently
but completely, a sad compassion, too, and with it a look of farewell,
seeming to say: "Once more I have come for this--and just, 'Good-by!"
For she knew that he was going with the others, going perhaps forever,
only the day after tomorrow---then she would see him no more and be free
of him. Let the day after tomorrow come soon! Miss Betty hated herself
for understanding the adieu, and hated herself more because sh