nd I think, after all that happened, you were
quite free. It is quite true that she did not behave
straightforwardly, and I am very sorry to have to say it. I shall
not be going home again: I have quite made up my mind about that. I
am afraid I must not let you come here to call upon me. I have a
particular reason for it. To tell you the truth, my friend Mrs.
Mumford is _very_ particular, and rather fussy, and has a rather
trying temper. So please do not come just yet. I am quite well, and
enjoying myself in a _very_ quiet way.--I remain, sincerely yours,
LOUISE E. DERRICK.' Finally she penned a reply to Mr. Cobb, and
this, after a glance at a railway time-table, gave her no trouble at
all. 'Dear Mr. Cobb,' she scribbled, 'if you really _must_ see me
before you go away to Bristol, or wherever it is, you had better
meet me on Saturday at Streatham Station, which is about halfway
between me and you. I shall come by the train from Sutton, which
reaches Streatham at 8.6.--Yours truly, L. E. D.'

To-day was Thursday. When Saturday came the state of things at
"Runnymede" had undergone no change whatever; Emmeline still waited
for a moment of courage, and Mumford, though he did not relish the
prospect, began to think it more than probable that Miss Derrick
would hold her ground until her actual marriage with Mr. Bowling.
Whether that unknown person would discharge the debt his betrothed
was incurring seemed an altogether uncertain matter. Louise, in the
meantime, kept quiet as a mouse--so strangely quiet, indeed, that
Emmeline's prophetic soul dreaded some impending disturbance, worse
than any they had yet suffered.

At luncheon, Louise made known that she would have to leave in the
middle of dinner to catch a train. No explanation was offered or
asked, but Emmeline, it being Saturday, said she would put the
dinner-hour earlier, to suit her friend's convenience. Louise smiled
pleasantly, and said how very kind it was of Mrs. Mumford.

She had no difficulty in reaching Streatham by the time appointed.
Unfortunately, it was a cloudy evening, and a spattering of rain
fell from time to time.

'I suppose you'll be afraid to walk to the Common,' said Mr. Cobb,
who stood waiting at the exit from the station, and showed more
satisfaction in his countenance when Louise appeared than he evinced
in words.

'Oh, I don't care,' she answered. 'It won't rain much, and I've
brought my umbrella, and I've nothing on that will take any ha