Eve's Ransom

continue, but Patty kept he

"that I was likely to be in

her a long tim

Eve's part astonished Hilliard. He replied evasively that he ha

mply have chang

o suddenly, and with

the landla

cab to drive to Mudie'

rn a book before leaving London. Is there any chance that she has g

possibility, but wit

id she had a let

ter than I do. Of course, you mustn't tell me anything you don't feel it

en I found her gone. I knew you lived in Gower Place somew

from her very soon. You may even get a

ittle spring o

by the last post to-nigh

id Hilliard. "Then you can tel

o by tram-car to Patty's abode in High Street, Camden Town. Supported by the h

ore I hit on the right one. I do wish now that I'd waited a little, but I'm always doing things in that way and

have you k

so long-ab

another inquiry was t

he been empl

up at him w

w. The people where she was went bankrupt, and s

d another

ork, adding up money all day. I'm sure it would drive me out of my

g back something of grave import the girl had already confessed, and in her chatter she frequently checked herself on the verge of an indiscretion. Hilliard took for granted that the mystery had to do

small shop which was on the poi

rds away; on her return he saw a

's not

ng. I should like to know

erally alone in the shop from half-past one to half-pa

ome to-morrow

n't heard anything I s

for a few minutes, and b

shop he heard from within the jingle of a piano. A survey through the closed glass door showed him

a letter this morning.

to hear it. Any

th her forefinger. "She thought she might as well go home for a week or

larm was g

, Mr. Hilliard. You mustn't thin

een relieved from her suspense, but no less plainly did she seek to

out for an hour or two in the middle of the day to play billiards. I can tell by his face when he

r shook

t. You have a

As he gazed through the glass door into the street, a figure suddenly blocked his prospect, and a face looked in. Then the door opened, and ther

re at this time of day

a man over here. Thought I

rd dre

opposite?" added the young m

d; but she readily lent herself to it, and followed. The door closed behind th

ve been in the way,"

nough when he likes, but sometimes he's such a silly there's no pu

tled over this exhil

Hilliard. "You p

anybody-that

Madeley p

ll her, what does it matter? She knows no end of thing

a good deal

she does, just! And

How did s

earnt it from her. Then her friend went to Paris again, and Eve wanted very much to go with her, but she didn

rom Eve. His visits were repeated at intervals of a few days, and at length, towards the end of June, he learnt that Miss Made

back to her old lod

hook he

ere before, but she didn't care about it. No

ed in putting th

l feel anxio

his eyes fo

s all ri

should like you to

Miss Ma

harm in your saying yes or no.

with a certa

isn't. And she

ve a sigh of relief. "I'

re," Patty answe

ed away and struck chords on the piano. Hilliard m

er before lon

. I don'

s, you'll wan

t li

promise me

power to keep

ouldn't mention anything about my comin

t speak

te s

d you rather she didn't know

ould be sure to let it out. I shal

tempted to ask a

ds behind her, eyes wide

oice. "If ever you should begin to feel an

in the form of an embarrassed nod. Thereu

morrow he was scarcely more at ease, and for several days he lived totally without occupation, save in his harassing thoughts. He

atre. At the summit two or three persons were already waiting-strangers to him. He leaned against the wall, and read an evening paper. At every sound of approaching feet his eyes watched with covert eagerness. Presently he heard a laugh, echoing from below, and recognised Patty's voice; then Miss Ringrose appeared round the winding in the staircase, and was followed by Eve Madeley. Patty gla

f civil indifference. Hilliard made no remark on what seemed the chance of their encounter, nor did he speak of her absence from London; they talked, as far as talk was possible under the circumstances, of theatrical and kindre

they were in their places, he at o

At D

see Mrs

ger yet, and wishes you would go back agai

unded s

she could say of me

udley. Eve could with difficulty be induced to converse at all, and when the entertainment was over she pointedly took leave of him