Seeing him hesitate, and thinking he might slip through her fingers, she went into action, and fired argument, persuasion, and flattery at him. Before he knew his whereabouts he was carried by storm, and surrendered, paying the first indemnity in the shape of a fortnight's board and lodging.
"I shall come to-morrow," he said.
He went to his hotel, but could not rest. The face he had seen visited him in the night, and he was sleepless. Sometimes he felt sure he had found Mary, and was glad; but doubts would march in again, and his hopes were elbowed out of the way.
CHAPTER VII
About five o'clock the next day the rumble of a cab was heard by Mrs. Blenners, who was lying in wait.
"It is Mr. Marlock!" she shouted, with two concave hands at her mouth; "show him into the best bedroom."
Bill was ushered in by the servant who had opened the door the day before, and was swept up the stairs with his portmanteaux. When the bell rang for tea he went down to the front parlour, where twelve lodgers were already seated at table. Mrs. Blenners tossed her head towards Bill, and said, "Mr. Marlock"; then made her forefinger travel round the table, like the hour hand of a clock, while she ticked off the boarders, one by one, and repeated their names.
Introductions over, they all fell to on the viands with the energy of the feeder of a sewing-machine going at full speed.