I hurried on straight to
Southampton. There my first visit was to the office of the Castle line.
I went to the point at once. Was there a Miss Wade among the passengers
by the Dunottar Castle?
No; nobody of that name on the list.
Had any lady taken a passage at the last moment?
The clerk perpended. Yes; a lady had come by the mail train from London,
with no heavy baggage, and had gone on board direct, taking what cabin
she could get. A young lady in grey. Quite unprepared. Gave no name.
Called away in a hurry.
What sort of lady?
Youngish; good-looking; brown hair and eyes, the clerk thought; a sort
of creamy skin; and a--well, a mesmeric kind of glance that seemed to go
right through you.
"That will do," I answered, sure now of my quarry. "To which port did
she book?"
"To Cape Town."
"Very well," I said, promptly. "You may reserve me a good berth in the
next outgoing steamer."
It was just like Hilda's impulsive character to rush off in this way at
a moment's notice; and just like mine to follow her. But it piqued me a
little to think that, but for the accident of an accident, I might never
have tracked her down.
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