her; but whether he recognized her or not Monica could not know. At
that moment she opened the door and passed in.

A fit of trembling seized her, as if she had barely escaped some peril.
In the passage she stood motionless, listening with the intensity of
dread. She could hear footsteps on the pavement; she expected a ring at
the door-bell. If he were so thoughtless as to come to the door, she
would on no account see him.

But there was no ring, and after a few minutes' waiting she recovered
her self-command. She had not made a mistake; even his features had
been discernible as he turned towards her. Was this the first time that
he had come to look at the place where she lived--possibly to spy upon
her? She resented this behaviour, yet the feeling was confused with a
certain satisfaction.

From one of the dormitories there was a view of Walworth Road. She ran
upstairs, softly opened the door of that room, and peeped in. The low
burning gas showed her that only one bed had an occupant, who appeared
to be asleep. Softly she went to the window, drew the blind aside, and
looked down into the street. But Widdowson had disappeared. He might of
course be on this side of the way.

'Who's that?' suddenly asked a voice from the occupied bed.

The speaker was Miss Eade. Monica looked at her, and nodded.

'You? What are you doing here?'

'I wanted to see if some one was standing outside.'

'You mean _him_?'

The other nodded.

'I've got a beastly headache. I couldn't hold myself up, and I had to
come home at eight o'clock. There's such pains all down my back too. I
shan't stay at this beastly place much longer. I don't want to get ill,
like Miss Radford. Somebody went to see her at the hospital this
afternoon, and she's awfully bad. Well, have you seen him?'

'He's gone. Good-night.'

And Monica left the room.

Next day she notified her intention of leaving her employment. No
questions were asked; she was of no particular importance; fifty, or,
for the matter of that, five score, young women equally capable could
be found to fill her place.

On Tuesday morning there came a letter from Virginia--a few lines
requesting her to meet her sisters, as soon as possible after closing
time that evening, in front of the shop. 'We have something _very
delightful_ to tell you. We _do hope_ you gave notice to-day, as things
are getting so bright in every direction.'

At a quarter to ten she was able to run out, and close at