Parting from him with fifty kisses, she went down to her comfortable and handsome carriage, her husband placing her in.

“I wish you were coming with me, Philip!  But, you see, it is only ladies to-day.  Six of us.”

Philip Hamlyn laughed.  “I don’t wish it at all,” he answered; “they would be fighting for me.  Besides, I must take old Pratt his prescription.  Only picture his storm of anger if I did not.”

Mrs. Hamlyn was not back until just before dinner:  her husband, she heard, had been out all day, and was not yet in.  Waiting for him in the drawing-room listlessly enough, she walked to the window to look out.  And there she saw with a sort of shock the same woman standing in the same place as the previous evening.  Not once all day long had she thought of her.

“This is a strange thing!” she exclaimed.  “I am sure it is this house that she is watching.”

On the impulse of the moment she rang the bell and called the man who answered it to the window.  He was a faithful, attached servant, had lived with them ever since they were married, and previously to that in Mr. Hamlyn’s family in the West Indies.

“Japhet,” said his mistress, “do you see that woman opposite?  Do you know why she stands there?”

Japhet’s answer told nothing.  They had all seen her downstairs yesterday evening as well as this, and wondered what she could be watching the house for.

“She is not waiting for any of the servants, then; not an acquaintance of theirs?”

“No, ma’am, that I’m sure she’s not.  She is a stranger to us all.”

“Then, Japhet, I think you shall go over and question her,” spoke his mistress impulsively.  “Ask her who she is and what she wants.  And tell her that a gentleman’s house cannot be watched with impunity in this country—­and she will do well to move away before the police are called to her.”

Japhet looked at his mistress and hesitated; he was an elderly man and cautious.  “I beg your pardon, madam,” he began, “for venturing to say as much, but I think it might be best to let her alone.  She’ll grow tired of stopping there.  And if her motive is to attract pity, and get alms sent out, why the fact of speaking to her might make her bold enough to ask for them.  If she comes there to-morrow again, it might be best for the master to take it up himself.”

For once in her life Mrs. Hamlyn condescended to listen to the opinion of an inferior, and Japhet was dismissed without orders.  Close upon that, a cab came rattling down the square, and stopped at the door.  Her husband leaped out of it, tossed the driver his fare—­he always paid liberally—­and let himself in with his latch-key.  To Mrs. Hamlyn’s astonishment, she had seen the woman dart from her standing-place to the middle of the road, evidently to look at or to accost Mr. Hamlyn.  But his movements were too quick:  he was within in a moment and had closed the outer door.  She then walked rapidly away, and disappeared.