Involuntarily I came to a standstill, and stood for one moment, watching. Not more than a moment. My gaze seemed to wake her up from a kind of stupefaction. She lifted her head, and looked at me, in a listless indifferent fashion.
But listlessness and indifference vanished. I knew her then, and she knew me. Strange that I had not recognised her before. In a moment the face changed, the cheeks reddened, the eyes were averted, and she sprang half up.
"Miss Millington!" I said. She would not offer her hand, and I took it, only to have it snatched away.
"What makes you come? As if I wanted to see you! Why can't you leave me alone?" she asked, with bitter scorn, her lips shaking in agitation.
"The Park is free to all," I said gravely. "I did not expect to find you here."
"No, I dare say not! You thought you had got me out of your way, at any rate!" she retorted.
"You do me wrong," I answered. "Miss Millington, I should like a few words with you. Will you sit down here?"
"No, thanks. I'm going home."
"Where is your home?"
She made no response.