u to work in that way--but the
people about you! I hated every face of man or woman that passed along
the street.'

'I didn't like the society.'

'I should hope not. Of course, I know you didn't. Why did you ever come
to such a place?'

There was severity rather than sympathy in his look.

'I was tired of the dull country life,' Monica replied frankly. 'And
then I didn't know what the shops and the people were like.'

'Do you need a life of excitement?' he asked, with a sidelong glance.

'Excitement? No, but one must have change.'

When they reached Herne Hill, Widdowson became silent, and presently he
allowed the horse to walk.

'That is my house, Miss Madden--the right-hand one.

Monica looked, and saw two little villas, built together with stone
facings, porches at the doors and ornamented gables.

'I only wanted to show it you,' he added quickly. 'There's nothing
pretty or noticeable about it, and it isn't at all grandly furnished.
My old housekeeper and one servant manage to keep it in order.'

They passed, and Monica did not allow herself to look back.

'I think it's a nice house,' she said presently.

'All my life I have wished to have a house of my own, but I didn't dare
to hope I ever should. Men in general don't seem to care so long as
they have lodgings that suit them--I mean unmarried men. But I always
wanted to live alone--without strangers, that is to say. I told you
that I am not very sociable. When I got my house, I was like a child
with a toy; I couldn't sleep for satisfaction. I used to walk all over
it, day after day, before it was furnished. There was something that
delighted me in the sound of my footsteps on the staircases and the
bare floors. Here I shall live and die, I kept saying to myself. Not in
solitude, I hoped. Perhaps I might meet some one--'

Monica interrupted him to ask a question about some object in the
landscape. He answered her very briefly, and for a long time neither
spoke. Then the girl, glancing at him with a smile of apology, said in
a gentle tone--

'You were telling me how the house pleased you. Have you still the same
pleasure in living there?'

'Yes. But lately I have been hoping--I daren't say more. You will
interrupt me again.'

'Which way are we going now, Mr. Widdowson?'

'To Streatham, then on to Carshalton. At five o'clock we will use our
right as travellers, and get some innkeeper to make tea for us. Look,
the sun is trying to break through; w