At the table that evening, Alice Robinson announced that she was going
to meet Wyndham immediately after dinner. Had her parents not been
accustomed to her departure at such summary notice, they might have
observed the touch of embarrassment that accompanied it. For, although
the expedition had been planned and considered for twenty-four hours on
end, Alice found the initial falsehood singularly agitating. Painfully
conscious of this lack of sangfroid, and fearful of betraying herself,
she felt she must escape from the house as soon as was plausible. So, a
little later, she rose in feverish haste from the dinner-table, and went
to her room to put on her wrappings. No one was to wait up for her, in
case she might be late, she said; she was taking a latch-key as usual.
Then she slipped out of the house, and went down the street rapidly.

Some little time had elapsed before she had control of her wits and
began to reflect. She had been impelled to start far earlier than she
had calculated, and thus she undoubtedly ran the danger of finding
Wyndham there, if she went straight to the studio. It was half-past
eight; by taking various omnibuses she could fill out the time and be
there by half-past nine. But even that seemed too early--he might be
only just on the point of going out to his club engagement. No, to be
absolutely safe, she would not venture actually to intrude till ten
o'clock.

However, she decided to make the journey at once, and to pass the
remaining time in that neighbourhood. So she mounted the first omnibus
that came along, and, once settled down for the long drive, she drew a
deep breath of relief. Now that she was definitely on the way, some of
the stress and pressure seemed to leave her, and the expedition seemed
less terrible. She pictured herself stealing down Tite Street, standing
nervously on the opposite pavement in the shadow, and looking up to see
if the studio were illuminated. Even if all were dark, Wyndham might
still be dressing in the room at the back; for, from the state of the
hall, nothing could be deduced, as often he would not take the trouble
to light the oil-lamp on which he at present depended. No, it would be
certainly more prudent to wait long enough for certainty. Should she
once break in upon him, she knew he would take good care she should not
see the picture; for no doubt he had taken measures against such a
surprise visit.

Immersed in these reflections, Alice was dimly