poured forth in a torrent of words, and before Ashby
had a chance of making a remark he was off. Ashby watched him, and
saw him enter the carriage where Katie and Dolores had gone with the
Russells; and then, drawing a long breath, he went slowly to the
train and took his seat. There was only one other occupant of the
carriage where he sat. This was a priest. He wore a broad-brimmed
hat; his eyes were concealed by spectacles: he had also a heavy brown
beard and mustache. So engaged was he in reading his breviary, that
as Ashby entered he did not look up or take any notice of him
whatever.

Lopez, also, had seen the whole proceeding, and had put on it his own
interpretation. As Ashby entered the train so did he, and soon the
whole of these people whose fortunes were so entangled were whirling
along to the North.

Ashby sat buried in gloom, with his heart full of bitterness and
wrath; of envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness. He had
hoped to see Katie. He had counted quite confidently on meeting once
more with Dolores. He had felt sure of Harry Rivers. But now all
three had failed him; and, what was worse, all three had drifted away
from him in one another's company, and appeared to be perfectly
indifferent to him, and perfectly happy without him.

The priest was unsociable, and kept reading his breviary as though
his life depended upon it. Yet this made no difference to Ashby. He
did not desire to make any new acquaintances or talk small-talk with
strangers. He preferred to be left to his own thoughts, dismal as
they were. He was in no mood for conversation, for his mind was full
of material for meditation, conjecture, wonder, and bewilderment.

Why, he thought, had Dolores deserted him? How had she become
acquainted with Katie? And Harry--to which of these two was he making
himself so infernally agreeable? Whichever it was, it seemed equally
bad. Ashby felt bitterly resentful against all of them. Katie seemed
to be the worst. She might have contrived, he thought, to give him
some sign. But then he recollected that on the previous evening he
was tracking Dolores, when he ought to have gone on Katie's trail. As
for Dolores, he thought that she might at least have shown herself
when he was wandering through the streets in the morning hours. But
perhaps she expected to find him in the neighborhood of Katie.
Evidently he himself had acted like a fool in leaving the hotel. As
for Harry Rivers, he could not help