of Guest's face, and his cool, easy voice gave no hint of his
real feelings. She turned aside to give instructions to a porter, while
her ears strained to catch every word which passed between her
companions. Mrs Moffatt was talking about her, gushing over her, in
fulsome phrases. Cornelia this! Cornelia that! What business had she
to use that name, anyway? She had never received permission to do so.
It was impertinent to assume such an air of familiarity!

The three made their way together towards the luggage van, where
Cornelia claimed her two big boxes, and saw them hoisted on the top of a
four-wheeler. The elation of ten minutes back had died a sudden death,
and she felt depressed and lonesome. Among all the crowd no one seemed
a greater stranger than this woman by her side; in comparison with her,
Captain Guest appeared an old and proven friend. She raised her eyes to
his, as the cabman busily strapped the last box to the roof, and found
his eyes fixed on her face with a very grave scrutiny. She did not know
how pale and dejected was her own appearance, how different from the
jaunty self-confidence of an hour before; but Guest had been keen to
notice the quickly succeeding expressions, and was saying to himself:
"She is upset. Something is different from what she expected. It's a
bad lookout for her with that terrible woman, but she must have known
her before." ...

Mrs Moffatt glanced from one to the other, giggled meaningly, and
stepped into the cab. They were alone; as much alone in the midst of
the noise and confusion, as in the quiet of the railway carriage.

"Well," said Guest, regretfully; "I suppose I must say good-bye! I'll
come round soon to see how you are getting along, and--Miss Briskett,
here is my card.--It gives the address of my club. If you should need
me for anything, at any time, ring me up! You will promise, won't you?
I could be with you in a few minutes."

Cornelia smiled faintly.

"Oh, thanks; I don't know about _needing_. Mr Moffatt will be round to
look after us, but--Norton's my only home over here, and you seem like a
bit of it! I'll be real glad to see you."

She held out her hand to him; he held it for a moment in a tight,
protective grasp, then took off his hat to Mrs Moffatt, and turned
away. Twenty yards farther on the cab passed him, and he caught another
glimpse of the two faces; one small and white, the other heavy in
outline, and suspiciously blue-pink a