‘Now I must go quickly home,’ said Monica.

‘But how?’

‘By train—­from York Road to Walworth Road.’

Widdowson cast a curious glance at her.  One would have imagined that he found something to disapprove in this ready knowledge of London transit.

‘I will go with you to the station, then.’

Without a word spoken, they walked the short distance to York Road.  Monica took her ticket, and offered a hand for good-bye.

‘I may write to you,’ said Widdowson, his face set in an expression of anxiety, ’and make an appointment, if possible, for the Sunday after next?’

‘I shall be glad to come—­if I can.’

‘It will be a very long time to me.’

With a faint smile, Monica hurried away to the platform.  In the train she looked like one whose mind is occupied with grave trouble.  Fatigue had suddenly overcome her; she leaned back and closed her eyes.

At a street corner very near to Messrs. Scotcher’s establishment she was intercepted by a tall, showily-dressed, rather coarse-featured girl, who seemed to have been loitering about.  It was Miss Eade.

’I want to speak to you, Miss Madden.  Where did you go with Mr. Bullivant this morning?’

The voice could not have been more distinctive of a London shop-girl; its tone signified irritation.

‘With Mr. Bullivant?  I went nowhere with him.’

‘But I saw you both get into the bus in Kennington Park Road.’

‘Did you?’ Monica returned coldly.  ’I can’t help it if Mr. Bullivant happened to be going the same way.’

‘Oh, very well!  I thought you was to be trusted.  It’s nothing to me—­’

‘You behave very foolishly, Miss Eade,’ exclaimed the other, whose nerves at this moment would not allow her to use patience with the jealous girl.  ’I can only tell you that I have never thought again of Mr. Bullivant since he left the bus somewhere in Clapham Road.  I’m tired of talking about such things.’

‘Now, see here, don’t be cross.  Come and walk a bit and tell me—­’

‘I’m too tired.  And there’s nothing whatever to tell you.’

‘Oh, well, if you’re going to be narsty?’

Monica walked on, but the girl caught her up.

’Don’t be so sharp with me, Miss Madden.  I don’t say as you wanted him to go in the bus with you.  But you might tell me what he had to say.’

’Nothing at all; except that he wished to know where I was going, which was no business of his.  I did what I could for you.  I told him that if he asked you to go up the river with him I felt sure you wouldn’t refuse.’

‘Oh, you did!’ Miss Eade threw up her head.  ’I don’t think it was a very delicate thing to say.’

’You are very unreasonable.  I myself don’t think it was very delicate, but haven’t you worried me to say something of the kind?’

‘No, that I’m sure I haven’t!  Worrited you, indeed!’