Now although Lewisham had promised to bring things to a conclusion with Miss Heydinger, he did nothing in the matter for five weeks, he merely left that crucial letter of hers unanswered.  In that time their removal from Madam Gadow’s into the gaunt house at Clapham was accomplished—­not without polyglot controversy—­and the young couple settled themselves into the little room on the second floor even as they had arranged.  And there it was that suddenly the world was changed—­was astonishingly transfigured—­by a whisper.

It was a whisper between sobs and tears, with Ethel’s arms about him and Ethel’s hair streaming down so that it hid her face from him.  And he too had whispered, dismayed perhaps a little, and yet feeling a strange pride, a strange novel emotion, feeling altogether different from the things he had fancied he might feel when this thing that he had dreaded should come.  Suddenly he perceived finality, the advent of the solution, the reconciliation of the conflict that had been waged so long.  Hesitations were at an end;—­he took his line.

Next day he wrote a note, and two mornings later he started for his mathematical duffers an hour before it was absolutely necessary, and instead of going directly to Vigours’, went over the bridge to Battersea Park.  There waiting for him by a seat where once they had met before, he found Miss Heydinger pacing.  They walked up and down side by side, speaking for a little while about indifferent topics, and then they came upon a pause ...

“You have something to tell me?” said Miss Heydinger abruptly.

Lewisham changed colour a little.  “Oh yes,” he said; “the fact is—­” He affected ease.  “Did I ever tell you I was married?”

“Married?”

“Yes.”

“Married!”

“Yes,” a little testily.

For a moment neither spoke.  Lewisham stood without dignity staring at the dahlias of the London County Council, and Miss Heydinger stood regarding him.

“And that is what you have to tell me?”

Mr. Lewisham tamed and met her eyes.  “Yes!” he said.  “That is what I have to tell you.”

Pause.  “Do you mind if I sit down?” asked Miss Heydinger in an indifferent tone.

“There is a seat yonder,” said Lewisham, “under the tree.”

They walked to the seat in silence.

“Now,” said Miss Heydinger, quietly.  “Tell me whom you have married.”

Lewisham answered sketchily.  She asked him another question and another.  He felt stupid and answered with a halting truthfulness.

“I might have known,” she said, “I might have known.  Only I would not know.  Tell me some more.  Tell me about her.”

Lewisham did.  The whole thing was abominably disagreeable to him, but it had to be done, he had promised Ethel it should be done.  Presently Miss Heydinger knew the main outline of his story, knew all his story except, the emotion that made it credible.  “And you were married—­before the second examination?” she repeated.