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perceive you are growing too imperious。'
Breakfast over； she accompanied the young man to the
platform； bought him the GRAPHIC； the ATHENAEUM； and a paper…
cutter； and stood on the step conversing till the whistle
sounded。 Then she put her head into the carriage。 'BLACK
FACE AND SHINING EYE！' she whispered； and instantly leaped
down upon the platform； with a thrill of gay and musical
laughter。 As the train steamed out of the great arch of
glass； the sound of that laughter still rang in the young
man's ears。
Challoner's position was too unusual to be long welcome to
his mind。 He found himself projected the whole length of
England； on a mission beset with obscure and ridiculous
circumstances； and yet； by the trust he had accepted；
irrevocably bound to persevere。 How easy it appeared； in the
retrospect； to have refused the whole proposal； returned the
money； and gone forth again upon his own affairs； a free and
happy man！ And it was now impossible： the enchantress who
had held him with her eye had now disappeared； taking his
honour in pledge； and as she had failed to leave him an
address； he was denied even the inglorious safety of retreat。
To use the paper…knife； or even to read the periodicals with
which she had presented him； was to renew the bitterness of
his remorse； and as he was alone in the compartment； he
passed the day staring at the landscape in impotent
repentance； and long before he was landed on the platform of
St。 Enoch's； had fallen to the lowest and coldest zones of
self…contempt。
As he was hungry； and elegant in his habits； he would have
preferred to dine and to remove the stains of travel； but the
words of the young lady； and his own impatient eagerness；
would suffer no delay。 In the late； luminous； and lamp…
starred dusk of the summer evening； he accordingly set
forward with brisk steps。
The street to which he was directed had first seen the day in
the character of a row of small suburban villas on a
hillside； but the extension of the city had long since； and
on every hand； surrounded it with miles of streets。 From the
top of the hill a range of very tall buildings； densely
inhabited by the poorest classes of the population and
variegated by drying…poles from every second window；
overplumbed the villas and their little gardens like a sea…
board cliff。 But still； under the grime of years of city
smoke； these antiquated cottages； with their venetian blinds
and rural porticoes； retained a somewhat melancholy savour of
the past。
The street when Challoner entered it was perfectly deserted。
From hard by； indeed； the sound of a thousand footfalls
filled the ear； but in Richard Street itself there was
neither light nor sound of human habitation。 The appearance
of the neighbourhood weighed heavily on the mind of the young
man； once more； as in the streets of London； he was impressed
with the sense of city deserts； and as he approached the
number indicated； and somewhat falteringly rang the bell； his
heart sank within him。
The bell was ancient； like the house； it had a thin and
garrulous note； and it was some time before it ceased to
sound from the rear quarters of the building。 Following upon
this an inner door was stealthily opened； and careful and
catlike steps drew near along the hall。 Challoner； supposing
he was to be instantly admitted； produced his letter； and； as
well as he was able； prepared a smiling face。 To his
indescribable surprise； however； the footsteps ceased； and
then； after a pause and with the like stealthiness； withdrew
once more； and died away in the interior of the house。 A
second time the young man rang violently at the bell； a
second time； to his keen hearkening； a certain bustle of
discreet footing moved upon the hollow boards of the old
villa； and again the fainthearted garrison only drew near to
retreat。 The cup of the visitor's endurance was now full to
overflowing； and； committing the whole family of Fonblanque
to every mood and shade of condemnation； he turned upon his
heel and redescended the steps。 Perhaps the mover in the
house was watching from a window； and plucked up courage at
the sight of this desistance； or perhaps； where he lurked
trembling in the back parts of the villa； reason in its own
right had conquered his alarms。 Challoner； at least； had
scarce set foot upon the pavement when he was arrested by the
sound of the withdrawal of an inner bolt； one followed
another； rattling in their sockets； the key turned harshly in
the lock； the door opened； and there appeared upon the
threshold a man of a very stalwart figure in his shirt
sleeves。 He was a person neither of great manly beauty nor
of a refined exterior； he was not the man； in ordinary moods；
to attract the eyes of the observer； but as he now stood in
the doorway； he was marked so legibly with the extreme
passion of terror that Challoner stood wonder…struck。 For a
fraction of a minute they gazed upon each other in silence；
and then the man of the house； with ashen lips and gasping
voice； inquired the business of his visitor。 Challoner
replied； in tones from which he strove to banish his
surprise； that he was the bearer of a letter to a certain
Miss Fonblanque。 At this name； as at a talisman； the man
fell back and impatiently invited him to enter； and no sooner
had the adventurer crossed the threshold； than the door was
closed behind him and his retreat cut off。
It was already long past eight at night； and though the late
twilight of the north still lingered in the streets； in the
passage it was already groping dark。 The man led Challoner
directly to a parlour looking on the garden to the back。
Here he had apparently been supping； for by the light of a
tallow dip the table was seen to be covered with a napkin；
and set out with a quart of bottled ale and the heel of a
Gouda cheese。 The room； on the other hand； was furnished
with faded solidity； and the walls were lined with scholarly
and costly volumes in glazed cases。 The house must have been
taken furnished； for it had no congruity with this man of the
shirt sleeves and the mean supper。 As for the earl's
daughter； the earl and the visionary consulships in foreign
cities； they had long ago begun to fade in Challoner's
imagination。 Like Doctor Grierson and the Mormon angels；
they were plainly woven of the stuff of dreams。 Not an
illusion remained to the knight…errant； not a hope was left
him； but to be speedily relieved from this disreputable
business。
The man had continued to regard his visitor with undisguised
anxiety； and began once more to press him for his errand。
'I am here；' said Challoner； 'simply to do a service between
two ladies； and I must ask you； without further delay； to
summon Miss Fonblanque； into whose hands alone I am
authorised to deliver the letter that I bear。'
A growing wonder began to mingle on the man's face with the
lines of solicitude。 'I am Miss Fonblanque；' he said； and
then； perceiving the effect of this communication； 'Good
God！' he cried； 'what are you staring at？ I