sting. Remembering that last choking cry, it seemed
probable that even now--Juliet resolutely stifled further questionings
until once more she stood within the portals of the hospital, and made
her inquiries of the porter. He retired, and returned, after a few
minutes' absence, with a face appropriately lengthened.

"Gone, miss! Directly you left. Went off in a moment."

Juliet nodded, and turned back to the street. What exactly had she
intended to do had Alice White still been alive? Honestly, she did not
know! It seemed as though she would never be able to answer that
question. She waved it impatiently aside. Why trouble about
might-have-beens? The girl was dead! The only question of importance
which now remained was, _what was she herself going to do_?

Juliet thought of the long years of boredom and waiting which had made
up her life; she thought of her dull, comfortable home; of her dull,
comfortable visits, and longingly, daringly, she thought of the
interesting "case" which was "urgent," and a "good chance." She
recalled with a tingling of excitement her aunt's morning announcement,
which necessitated her own departure on the morrow.

"I could go over to Nunkton, and see what it meant. If there was
anything I didn't like I could move on at once to the Blakes. No one
need know; no one need guess. Even if I stayed for a few days, it could
be arranged!" She stopped short in the middle of the pavement, and drew
a deep breath of excitement.

"It's my chance!" she cried to herself. "The chance I've been waiting
for! Whatever happens, whatever comes of it--_I shall go_!"

The next day Juliet set forth on her voyage of adventure, with the
mingling of elation and nervousness inevitable under the circumstances.
Remindful of telephone instructions, she attired herself with especial
care, and was agreeably conscious that she looked her best. A
travelling costume as smart as it was simple, a trig little hat, with
just one dash of colour at the side to give the needed _cachet_ and
emphasise the tints of the face beneath. "Really quite a creditable
face!" she told herself, smiling back at a reflection of grey eyes
thickly fringed with black lashes, curling, humorous lips, and the
prettiest flush of pink--genuine, washable pink--upon the cheeks. "If I
were happy, if I were interested, I might be almost--beautiful," she
told herself with a sigh. "Every woman grows plain when she is
superfluous and alon