But Miss Llewellyn had not got rid of Mr Portland yet. As she was pushing her way out of the corridor when the play was over, she found him again by her side.
‘Will you be at home to-morrow, Miss Llewellyn?’ he asked in a low voice.
‘I believe so. Why?’
‘Because I particularly want to speak to you. May I call about three?’
‘Certainly, if you really wish to speak to me; but I cannot imagine what you can have to say that you cannot say now?’
‘Oh, that would be quite impossible,’ rejoined Mr Portland, looking her straight in the eyes; ‘I couldn’t even explain what my business with you is, but you shall hear all about it if you will be so good as to receive me about three.’
‘I shall be at home,’ replied Miss Llewellyn coldly, as she pushed her way out into the street and entered a passing cab with her companions.
‘I shall call for you both to-morrow about six o’clock, Hetty,’ she said, as she deposited them at the door of their lodgings, ‘and take you to the Alhambra. You’ll see something there more beautiful than you have ever seen before.’
‘Oh, Nell, you are good!’ cried her sister; ‘and what a lot of money you must receive. It makes me wish that I, too, had come up to London town when you did, and gone to service, for then I might have saved some money to help Will furnish our rooms. I brought him nothing, you know, Nell—not even a penny, It seems so sad, doesn’t it?’
‘What nonsense!’ replied Miss Llewellyn. ‘You brought him your true, pure heart and your honest soul, and they are worth all the money in the world, Hetty, and I am sure William thinks the same. Good-night. We shall meet again to-morrow.’