e breakdown had not happened very far from
town, and, tedious as the time seemed to Mark, it was not actually
long before the colour of the atmosphere (there was no other
indication) proved that they were nearing the terminus.

It changed by slow gradations from its original yellow-whiteness to
mustard colour, from that to a smoky lurid red, and from red to
stinging, choking iron-grey, and the iron-grey pall was in full
possession of King's Cross, where the sickly moonlight of the electric
lamps could only clear small halos immediately around their globes.

Mark sprang out before the train had stopped; he strained his eyes in
watching for the form he hoped to see there, but in vain; there were
no signs in all that bustle of Mabel or Dolly, or the little dog to
whom he owed so much.

He sought out the guard who had deluded him and found him
superintending the clearing of the luggage van. He hardly knew whether
it was merely a fancy that the official, after making a half-step
forward to meet him, and fumbling in all his pockets, turned away
again as if anxious to avoid meeting his eye.

Mark forced him to meet him, however, willing or not. 'Where is the
lady?' he said sharply. 'You left her behind after all, it seems?'

'It wasn't my fault, sir,' said the guard wheezily, 'nor it wasn't the
lady's fault, leastways on'y the little lady's, sir. Both on us tried
all we could, but the little missy, her with the tarrier dawg, was
nervous-like with it all, and wouldn't hear of getting in the train
again; so the young lady, she said, seeing as they was so near London,
they could get a fly or a cab or summat, and go on in that.'

'And--did she give you no message for me?' said Mark.

There was such evident expectation in his face that the guard seemed
afraid to disappoint it. 'I was to give you her respecks and
compliments,' he said slowly--'or was it her love, now?' he
substituted quickly, after a glance at Mark's face, 'and you was not
to be in a way about her, and she'd be seein' of you again before very
long, and----'

'That's all a lie, you know,' said Mark, calmly.

'Well, then, she didn't say nothing, if that warn't it,' said the
guard, doggedly.

'Did she--did she leave any directions about luggage or anything?'
said Mark.

'Brown portmanty to go in the left-luggage room till called for,' said
the guard. 'Anything else I can do for you, sir; no? Good mornin',
then, and thanky, sir!'

'Never did such a thing