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had so suddenly assailed him； and the strange conjunction of
fugitives whom he had seen to issue from the house； were
mysteries beyond his plummet。 With an obscure awe he
considered them in his mind； continuing； meanwhile； to thread
the web of streets； and once more alone in morning sunshine。
In his first retreat he had entirely wandered； and now；
steering vaguely west； it was his luck to light upon an
unpretending street； which presently widened so as to admit a
strip of gardens in the midst。 Here was quite a stir of
birds； even at that hour； the shadow of the leaves was
grateful； instead of the burnt atmosphere of cities； there
was something brisk and rural in the air； and Challoner paced
forward； his eyes upon the pavement and his mind running upon
distant scenes； till he was recalled； upon a sudden； by a
wall that blocked his further progress。 This street； whose
name I have forgotten； is no thoroughfare。
He was not the first who had wandered there that morning； for
as he raised his eyes with an agreeable deliberation； they
alighted on the figure of a girl； in whom he was struck to
recognise the third of the incongruous fugitives。 She had
run there； seemingly； blindfold； the wall had checked her
career： and being entirely wearied； she had sunk upon the
ground beside the garden railings； soiling her dress among
the summer dust。 Each saw the other in the same instant of
time； and she； with one wild look； sprang to her feet and
began to hurry from the scene。
Challoner was doubly startled to meet once more the heroine
of his adventure； and to observe the fear with which she
shunned him。 Pity and alarm； in nearly equal forces；
contested the possession of his mind； and yet； in spite of
both； he saw himself condemned to follow in the lady's wake。
He did so gingerly； as fearing to increase her terrors； but；
tread as lightly as he might； his footfalls eloquently echoed
in the empty street。 Their sound appeared to strike in her
some strong emotion； for scarce had he begun to follow ere
she paused。 A second time she addressed herself to flight；
and a second time she paused。 Then she turned about； and
with doubtful steps and the most attractive appearance of
timidity； drew near to the young man。 He on his side
continued to advance with similar signals of distress and
bashfulness。 At length； when they were but some steps apart；
he saw her eyes brim over； and she reached out both her hands
in eloquent appeal。
'Are you an English gentleman？' she cried。
The unhappy Challoner regarded her with consternation。 He
was the spirit of fine courtesy； and would have blushed to
fail in his devoirs to any lady； but； in the other scale； he
was a man averse from amorous adventures。 He looked east and
west； but the houses that looked down upon this interview
remained inexorably shut； and he saw himself； though in the
full glare of the day's eye； cut off from any human
intervention。 His looks returned at last upon the suppliant。
He remarked with irritation that she was charming both in
face and figure； elegantly dressed and gloved； a lady
undeniable； the picture of distress and innocence； weeping
and lost in the city of diurnal sleep。
'Madam；' he said； 'I protest you have no cause to fear
intrusion； and if I have appeared to follow you； the fault is
in this street； which has deceived us both。' An unmistakable
relief appeared upon the lady's face。 'I might have guessed
it！' she exclaimed。 'Thank you a thousand times！ But at
this hour； in this appalling silence； and among all these
staring windows； I am lost in terrors … oh； lost in them！'
she cried； her face blanching at the words。 'I beg you to
lend me your arm；' she added with the loveliest； suppliant
inflection。 'I dare not go alone； my nerve is gone … I had a
shock； oh； what a shock！ I beg of you to be my escort。'
'My dear madam；' responded Challoner heavily； 'my arm is at
your service。'
'She took it and clung to it for a moment； struggling with
her sobs； and the next； with feverish hurry； began to lead
him in the direction of the city。 One thing was plain； among
so much that was obscure： it was plain her fears were
genuine。 Still； as she went； she spied around as if for
dangers； and now she would shiver like a person in a chill；
and now clutch his arm in hers。 To Challoner her terror was
at once repugnant and infectious； it gained and mastered；
while it still offended him； and he wailed in spirit and
longed for release。
'Madam；' he said at last； 'I am； of course； charmed to be of
use to any lady； but I confess I was bound in a direction
opposite to that you follow； and a word of explanation … '
'Hush！' she sobbed； 'not here … not here！'
The blood of Challoner ran cold。 He might have thought the
lady mad； but his memory was charged with more perilous
stuff； and in view of the detonation； the smoke and the
flight of the ill…assorted trio； his mind was lost among
mysteries。 So they continued to thread the maze of streets
in silence； with the speed of a guilty flight； and both
thrilling with incommunicable terrors。 In time； however； and
above all by their quick pace of walking； the pair began to
rise to firmer spirits； the lady ceased to peer about the
corners； and Challoner； emboldened by the resonant tread and
distant figure of a constable； returned to the charge with
more of spirit and directness。
'I thought；' said he； in the tone of conversation； 'that I
had indistinctly perceived you leaving a villa in the company
of two gentlemen。'
'Oh！' she said； 'you need not fear to wound me by the truth。
You saw me flee from a common lodging…house； and my
companions were not gentlemen。 In such a case； the best of
compliments is to be frank。'
'I thought；' resumed Challoner； encouraged as much as he was
surprised by the spirit of her reply； 'to have perceived；
besides； a certain odour。 A noise； too … I do not know to
what I should compare it … '
'Silence！' she cried。 'You do not know the danger you
invoke。 Wait； only wait； and as soon as we have left those
streets； and got beyond the reach of listeners； all shall be
explained。 Meanwhile； avoid the topic。 What a sight is this
sleeping city！' she exclaimed； and then； with a most
thrilling voice； '〃Dear God；〃 she quoted； 〃the very houses
seem asleep； and all that mighty heart is lying still。〃'
'I perceive； madam；' said he； 'you are a reader。'
'I am more than that；' she answered； with a sigh。 'I am a
girl condemned to thoughts beyond her age； and so untoward is
my fate； that this walk upon the arm of a stranger is like an
interlude of peace。'
They had come by this time to the neighbourhood of the
Victoria Station and here； at a street corner； the young lady
paused； withdrew her arm from Challoner's； and looked up and
down as though in pain or indecision。 Then； with a lovely
change of countenance； and laying her gloved hand upon his
arm …
'What you already think of me；' she said； 'I tremble to
conceive； yet I must here condemn myself still further。 Here
I must lea