She stepped into the cab, and, as he waved a last greeting, he little thought how and when they should meet again.
The next six days were passed he hardly knew how. He wandered from station to station on the Great Northern line trying to obtain some trace of Lady Gwendolyn; but without the least success. On the whole, he might as well have looked for a needle in a haystack; but the constant movement did him good, and kept him from absolute despair.
It seemed to him that the very force of his longing must bring them together at last. And so, perhaps, it did; but not as he had pictured and hoped.
It was the seventh day after his parting from Lady Gwendolyn, and, mindful of his appointment with Mrs. O’Hara, Colonel Dacre slept in town overnight, and proceeded to the “Langham” at eleven o’clock the next morning. After making due inquiries, he found that the widow was not there, neither had the manager any letter from her.
As that was the case, he left the hotel, saying he would call again later; and in the evening he presented himself again. This time he obtained more satisfaction. A young lady had just arrived, who had given this name, one of the waiters told him, and had a sitting-room and bedroom adjoining, on the first floor, Nos. 5 and 6.
With the aid of an obliging and comely chambermaid, Colonel Dacre found himself at No. 5 presently, and tapping lightly with his knuckles on the door, received a soft summons to enter. It was nearly dusk now, and he could not see very plainly, still it struck him that the outline of Mrs. O’Hara’s figure had grown very slender in the past week to anything he could remember it these last ten years. Nevertheless, he said, with assurance:
“I was quite afraid I should miss you, after all, Norah. This is the second time I have been to the ‘Langham’ to-day.”
“I am sorry you should be disappointed a second time also,” answered a voice as cold as ice.
“Mrs. O’Hara?” said Colonel Dacre, half inquiringly, half apologetically. “I am afraid I must have made some mistake.”
And he peered forward to obtain a glimpse of the face that was purposely concealed from him. At this moment a hand touched his shoulder from behind.