Alton did not at first see her face, but he noticed that her dress was threadbare, and she was walking wearily, while the man who read dejection in her attitude was sorry for her.  She stopped in the passage, glancing at the card in her hand, then drew herself up a little and with a quick, nervous movement lifted her head.  Alton saw her face at last, and though it had grown a trifle hollow and pale, he recognized Miss Townshead.  Then she saw him, and he moved forward hastily.

“This is a pleasure I was not expecting,” he said.

He fancied for a moment that the girl would have retreated.  She, however, looked at him quietly, though something in her manner checked Alton’s outstretched hand.

“Are you staying here?” she said.

“No,” said Alton.  “I’m going away to-morrow, but I want quite a long talk with you.”

“I do not wish to hear anything about Somasco,” said the girl.

“Well,” said Alton, who understood her, smiling, “we’ll let that go by.  Now, they begin on time in this city, and as your father doesn’t like his breakfast early, I’m figuring you haven’t had any.  We’ll get some together.  I’ve been too busy to think of mine.”

Nellie Townshead was afterwards both astonished and angry with herself.  She had lost her respect for this man who had, it seemed, betrayed her confidence, and if he had given her a moment’s time, would probably have dispensed with his company.  As it was, however, Alton drew her out into the street with a swift forcefulness before she could frame an answer.  She was also feeling very lonely and downcast then, and it was pleasant to find somebody she knew in the busy city that had apparently no place for her.

“Now,” said Alton presently, “we’ll go in here.  It’s nice and quiet for Vancouver, but I expect you know this place.”

He realized that he had blundered when he saw the girl’s face, but in another second she was laughing a little.  “No,” she said.  “I’m afraid you are forgetting.”

Alton apparently misunderstood her.  “Well,” he said, smiling, “it’s quite possible you know another place that’s nicer; but sit right yonder while I waken some of these people up.”

Now the public breakfast is an institution in Western cities whose inhabitants frequently take no meals at home, and the appearance of the bronzed man and girl together excited no comment, while Alton was able to contrive that they had a table in a corner to themselves.  His tastes were, as his companion knew, severely simple, and she wondered a little, because that establishment was one of the most expensive in the city.  In the meanwhile, the man talked assiduously, if somewhat at random, and was contented when he found that he could keep the girl’s attention occupied so that she scarcely noticed how often he refilled her plate.  At last, as he passed a great cluster of fruit across, he said, “It’s time you did the talking now.  You are going right ahead in this city?”