ything. Only forgive!

"Yours,

"ADREA."

CHAPTER XI

ADREA'S DIARY

"A figure from the past I see once more as in a dream."

This evening I have had an adventure! I am thankful, for it has
occupied my thoughts for awhile; and for anything that does that I am
grateful. I had been in the house all day, restless and nervous, and
towards dusk I put on my cloak and a thick veil, and went out into the
street. I scarcely noticed which way I went. It was all the same to
me. A dull purple bank of clouds hung low down in the west, and the
air was close and still. By-and-by I heard thunder, and big raindrops
fell upon the pavement. A storm was threatening, and I longed for it
to come and clear the air.

I must have been walking for nearly an hour, when it came at last, and
the rain fell in great sheets. I looked around for a cab, but there
was none in sight. I had no idea where I was,--London is so vast and
large,--and though, by the distant roar of wheels, I could tell that
I was not far from a great thoroughfare, the street in which I was
seemed to be deserted. Just by my side was a dark tunnel, gloomy and
vault-like in appearance; but in that downpour any refuge was welcome,
and I stepped back underneath it. It was like going into the bowels
of the earth; and, every now and then, there was a roar over my head
which made me almost dizzy. But, from round the corner, I could see
that it was only the sound of trains passing and repassing, so I
decided to stay until I could see a cab.

Opposite to me was a man with a truck-load of oranges, and by his
side a boy seated before a red-hot swinging can, containing chestnuts.
There was no one else in the street, although at the bottom of it
crowds of people and a constant stream of vehicles were hurrying
along. On the other side of the way was a tall and grim-looking
building, discoloured with smoke and age. It was evidently a hospital
or institution of some sort. The windows were long and narrow, and one
or two of them, I could see, were of stained glass. There was no brass
plate by the front door, nor any sign. In the absence of anything else
to do, I began to frame surmises as to what the place might be. The
spotlessly white doorsteps and polished bell interested me;
they seemed out of tone with the character of the place and its
surroundings, so utterly bare and dreary. I b