Hailing one that was passing by, he put her in, his hand lingering on hers, lingering on the folds of her dress as he bent to arrange it; his eyes clinging to her face with a passionate, woeful tenderness.  “It is two years since I saw you, since I have heard from you,” he said, his voice hoarse with the effort to speak quietly.

“Yes,” she answered, “it is two years.”  Stooping her head to write upon a card, her lips moved as if they said something,—­something that seemed like “I must! only once!” but of course that could not be.  “It is my address,” she then said, putting the card in his hand.  “I shall be happy to see you in my own home.”

“This afternoon?” eagerly.

She hesitated.  “Whenever you may call.  I thank you again,—­and good morning.”

Meanwhile the car had moved on its course:  outwardly, peaceful enough; inwardly, full of commotion.  The conservative gentleman, gathering himself up from his prone estate, white with passion and chagrin, saw about him everywhere looks of scorn, and smiles of derision and contempt, and fled incontinently from the sight.

His coal-heaving confrere, left to do battle alone, came to the charge valiant and unterrified.  Another outbreak of blasphemy and obscenity were the weapons of assault; the ladies looked shocked, the gentlemen indignant and disgusted.

“Friend,” called the non-resistant broad-brim, beckoning peremptorily to the conductor,—­“friend, come here.”

The conductor came.

“If colored persons are not permitted to ride, I suppose it is equally against the rules of the company to allow nuisances in their cars.  Isn’t it?”

“You are right, sir,” assented the conductor, upon whose face a smile of comprehension began to beam.

“Well, I don’t know what thee thinks, or what these other people think, but I know of no worse nuisance than a filthy, blasphemous drunkard.  There he sits,—­remove him.”

There was a perfect shout of laughter and delight; and before the irate “citizen” comprehended what was intended, or could throw himself into a pugilistic attitude, he was seized, sans ceremony, and ignominiously pushed and hustled from the car; the people therein, black soldier and all, drawing a long breath of relief, and going on their way rejoicing.  Everybody’s eyes were brighter; hearts beat faster, blood moved more quickly; everybody felt a sense of elation, and a kindness towards their neighbor and all the world.  A cruel and senseless prejudice had been lost in an impulse, generous and just; and for a moment the sentiment which exalted their humanity, vivified and gladdened their souls.

CHAPTER XI

    “The future seemed barred
  By the corpse of a dead hope.”

  OWEN MEREDITH

So, then, after these long years he had seen her again.  Having seen her, he wondered how he had lived without her.  If the wearisome months seemed endless in passing, the morning hours were an eternity.  “This afternoon?” he had said.  “Be it so,” she had answered.  He did not dare to go till then.