e had inspired, seemed
contemptuous of his future. She would be worse than she already was, if
she countenanced a course of action full of such baleful possibilities
for himself. Almost before she knew what she was doing, she kissed him
lightly on the cheek, and snatched the violets he was wearing in his
coat, before slipping away, to lose herself in the fog.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A GOOD SAMARITAN

Mavis heard him calling her name, first one way, then another; once, he
approached and came quite near her, but he changed his direction, to
pass immediately out of her ken.

She then hurried in the direction of what she believed to be
Hammersmith; she could not know for certain, as the fog increased in
intensity every minute. Her mind was too confused to ask anyone if she
were going the right way, even if she had cared to know, which, at
present, she did not. She was seized with a passion for movement,
anything to distract her mind from the emotions possessing it. One
moment, she blamed herself for having left Windebank as she had done;
the next, she told herself and tried hard to believe that she had done
the best conceivable thing under the circumstances.

She walked quickly, careless to where her footsteps led her, as if
hurrying from, or to Windebank's side; she was not certain which she
desired. She had walked for quite twenty minutes when she was brought
up short by a blow on the forehead. Light flashed in her eyes; she put
out her arms to save herself from a fall. She had walked into a tree,
contact with which had bruised her face and torn skin from her
forehead. Pain and dizziness brought her to the realisation of the fact
that it was late, and that she was penniless; also, that she was
unaware of her whereabouts. She resolved to get back to her lodging
with as little delay as possible. She groped about, hoping to find
someone who would tell her where she was and direct her to Kiva Street.
After some minutes, she all but walked into a policeman, who told her
how she was near the King's Road, Chelsea, also how to get to her
destination. She hastened on, doing her utmost to follow his
directions. This was not easy, the fog and the pain in her head both
confusing her steps. Once or twice, she was almost overcome by
faintness; then, she was compelled to cling to railings for support
until she had strength to continue her way.

There came a time when her legs refused to carry her further; her head
throbbed vio