dbye, dreamland," she added in
meditation. "I shall never dare revisit the ground we have covered. I
don't want to see it again; I couldn't bear it. But I shall always think
and dream of it."

He dared not answer. The least false note, and she would be unnerved.
Since the parting had to be, let them grip hands silently for the last
time, almost without realising it; let them go off as if they were to
meet again on the morrow--as in so many partings that life itself brings
about.

And as they were borne westwards, signs of life began to appear again;
as they approached the Strand they came full upon the torrents of
population pouring out from their amusements. At Trafalgar Square the
town was alive with masses of hansoms in motion that broke into jets and
streams flashing and darting into all the avenues. They seemed to have
returned into this familiar, dazzling London of the night as from a long
journey. They were giddy with the impression of it all, and winced as if
they had long grown disaccustomed to it. But, definitely, they were at
home again; soon the houses of Grosvenor Place would loom up before
them, though somehow their everyday universe had taken on some subtle
quality of unreality since the morning.

And yet how small the distance they had gone afield, how soon
annihilated! Up St. James's Street went the cab, alongside the Green
Park, and in a few minutes it had pulled up in Grosvenor Place. Wyndham
sprang out with a forced alertness, and helped his companion to descend.
The house was quite dark. Lady Betty led the way to the door-step and
produced a latch key from her purse. Wyndham stood by, strained and
nervous.

"You must come in to receive your souvenir," she said. "You have well
deserved it," she added with a brave smile.

He followed her in as she pushed the door open; then she switched on the
light. "You had best wait in the dining-room, I shall join you again
presently."

Wyndham stood alone in the spacious room, with a sense of chill and
desolation. The thought of his marriage and life to come flashed on him
with a stroke of terror. Suddenly he shivered. Ah, it was bleak here in
this deadly, all-pervading stillness. The very lights seemed to flood
the room mournfully. How tired he was! Everything seemed to swim before
him.

And then he was aware she was in the room again, smiling at him and
exhibiting a package. Her presence seemed to revive him.

"At last I am to be enlightened," he mur