said. "Go! go, and may God help me! You have seen
me--me, an innocent girl! fleeing from a dire catastrophe and haunted by
sinister men; and neither pity, curiosity, nor honour move you to await
my explanation or to help in my distress. Go!" she repeated. "I am lost
indeed." And with a passionate gesture she turned and fled along the
street.

Challoner observed her retreat and disappear, an almost intolerable
sense of guilt contending with the profound sense that he was being
gulled. She was no sooner gone than the first of these feelings took the
upper hand; he felt, if he had done her less than justice, that his
conduct was a perfect model of the ungracious; the cultured tone of her
voice, her choice of language, and the elegant decorum of her movements,
cried out aloud against a harsh construction; and between penitence and
curiosity he began slowly to follow in her wake. At the corner he had
her once more full in view. Her speed was failing like a stricken
bird's. Even as he looked, she threw her arm out gropingly, and fell and
leaned against the wall. At the spectacle, Challoner's fortitude gave
way. In a few strides he overtook her, and, for the first time removing
his hat, assured her in the most moving terms of his entire respect and
firm desire to help her. He spoke at first unheeded; but gradually it
appeared that she began to comprehend his words; she moved a little, and
drew herself upright; and finally, as with a sudden movement of
forgiveness, turned on the young man a countenance in which reproach and
gratitude were mingled. "Ah, madam," he cried, "use me as you will!" And
once more, but now with a great air of deference, he offered her the
conduct of his arm. She took it with a sigh that struck him to the
heart; and they began once more to trace the deserted streets. But now
her steps, as though exhausted by emotion, began to linger on the way;
she leaned the more heavily upon his arm; and he, like the parent bird,
stooped fondly above his drooping convoy. Her physical distress was not
accompanied by any failing of her spirits; and hearing her strike so
soon into a playful and charming vein of talk, Challoner could not
sufficiently admire the elasticity of his companion's nature. "Let me
forget," she had said, "for one half-hour, let me forget"; and sure
enough, with the very word, her sorrows appeared to be forgotten. Before
every house she paused, invented a name for the proprietor, and sketched
his c