"You know better than I," said Fleda, speaking with high extravagance. She had paused an instant, and Mrs. Gereth took her up. "Well, if she had?"!

"Please open the house-door," said Fleda. "Why, she simply won't marry me, don't you see?"

"Read it?" The door opened, and the smutty maid, edging in, announced "Mrs. Brigstock!" At the sight of him two fresh waves passed quickly across her heart, one at the heels of the other. The first was an instant perception that this encounter was not an accident; the second a consciousness as prompt that the best place for it was the street. She knew before he told her that he had been to see her, and the next thing she knew was that he had had information from his mother. Her mind grasped these things while he said with a smile: "I saw only your back, but I was sure. I was over the way. I've been at your house."