Her nervousness increased as she went.
She was not used to be alone in crowded streets, and she began to feel
faint and bewildered. Her heart seemed to stop whenever she saw a fair-
headed man, but she reached the Hospital at last, and no Lorrimer had
met her.
Then a new fear disturbed her. Perhaps he was ill. She went up to the
door, and there, just coming out, Lorrimer's secretary met her.
"I was just coming to meet you, madam," he said; "I am sorry I am too
late. Mr. Lorrimer has been detained by visitors, and sent me to
apologise for his absence. If you will be so good as to come to the
library, he will join you there as soon as he is disengaged."
When she was settled in the library a servant brought her books to her.
She had not come to read, but work was the daily habit of her life, and
she went on now, mechanically, but carefully as usual, though with a
curious sinking of the heart, and benumbing sense of loss and pain. As
she came along in the train she had been thinking how it would amuse
Lorrimer to hear of her night's adventure, and of the relief it would
be to tell him of all the other things she had come to tell; but now
she felt like one bidden to a bridal, and brought to a burial.
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