had therefore not been surprised, on opening her letter that
morning, to learn that she had taken up her hospital work; but in the
amazement of finding her so near he hardly grasped her explanation of
the coincidence. There was something about a Buffalo patient suddenly
ordered to New York for special treatment, and refusing to go in with a
new nurse--but these details made no impression on his mind, which had
only room for the fact that chance had brought his wife back at the very
moment when his whole being yearned for her.

She wrote that, owing to her duties, she would be unable to see him till
three that afternoon; and he had still six hours to consume before their
meeting. But in spirit they had met already--they were one in an
intensity of communion which, as he strode northward along the bright
crowded thoroughfare, seemed to gather up the whole world into one
throbbing point of life.

He had a boyish wish to keep the secret of his happiness to himself, not
to let Mr. Langhope or Mrs. Ansell know of his meeting with Justine till
it was over; and after twice measuring the length of the Park he turned
in at one of the little wooden restaurants which were beginning to
unshutter themselves in anticipation of spring custom. If only he could
have seen Justine that morning! If he could have brought her there, and
they could have sat opposite each other, in the bare empty room, with
sparrows bustling and twittering in the lilacs against the open window!
The room was ugly enough--but how she would have delighted in the
delicate green of the near slopes, and the purplish haze of the woods
beyond! She took a childish pleasure in such small adventures, and had
the knack of giving a touch of magic to their most commonplace details.
Amherst, as he finished his cold beef and indifferent eggs, found
himself boyishly planning to bring her back there the next day....

Then, over the coffee, he re-read her letter.

The address she gave was that of a small private hospital, and she
explained that she would have to receive him in the public parlour,
which at that hour was open to other visitors. As the time approached,
the thought that they might not be alone when they met became
insufferable; and he determined, if he found any one else, in possession
of the parlour, to wait in the hall, and meet her as she came down the
stairs.

He continued to elaborate this plan as he walked back slowly through the
Park, He had timed himself