that." Hilliard
stifled his dissatisfaction and misgivings. "You'll think this a queer
sort of place. I'm quite alone here to-day. But after you have rested a
little we can go somewhere else."

"Yes. Eve told me you would be so kind as to take me to see things. I'm
not tired. I won't come in, if you'd rather----"

"Oh, you may as well see what sort of a den I've made for myself."

He led the way upstairs. When she reached the top, Patty was again
breathless, the result of excitement more than exertion. She exclaimed
at sight of the sitting-room. How cosy it was! What a scent from the
flowers! Did he always buy flowers for his room? No doubt it was to
please Eve. What a comfortable chair! Of course Eve always sat in this
chair?

Then her babbling ceased, and she looked up at Hilliard, who stood over
against her, with nervous delight. He could perceive no change whatever
in her, except that she was better dressed than formerly. Not a day
seemed to have been added to her age; her voice had precisely the
intonations that he remembered. After all, it was little more than half
a year since they were together in Paris; but to Hilliard the winter
had seemed of interminable length, and he expected to find Miss
Ringrose a much altered person.

"When did this headache begin?" he inquired, trying to speak without
over-much concern.

"She had a little yesterday, when she met me at the station. I didn't
think she was looking at all well."

"I'm surprised to hear that. She looked particularly well when I saw
her last. Had you any trouble in making your way here?"

"Oh, not a bit. I found the tram, just as Eve told me. But I'm so
sorry! And a fine day too! You don't often have fine days here, do you,
Mr. Hilliard?"

"Now and then. So you've seen Dudley at last. What do you think of it?"

"Oh, I like it! I shouldn't mind living there a bit. But of course I
like Birmingham better."

"Almost as fine as Paris, isn't it?"

"You don't mean that, of course. But I've only seen a few of the
streets, and most of the shops are shut up to-day. Isn't it a pity Eve
has to live so far off? Though, of course, it isn't really very
far--and I suppose you see each other often?"

Hilliard took a seat, crossed his legs, and grasped his knee. The girl
appeared to wait for an answer to her last words, but he said nothing,
and stared at the floor.

"If it's fine to-morrow," Patty continued, after observing him
furtively, "are you coming to