She had promised to go down to Surbiton to spend a day or two with a fellow-student, and, unwilling as she was to leave London at this juncture, she determined to keep her promise to the letter.
So when Ralph knocked at her door in the early afternoon, he was met by the news that she had gone to the country till Monday. She had started only a few minutes before, and had left no address; but the maid had heard her tell the cabman to drive to Waterloo.
Two minutes later Ralph was tearing through the streets in a hansom. He had wasted time enough, fool that he was! Nothing should induce him now to wait another hour.
Just outside the station he met Lucy.
"Mona is starting for Surbiton," she said. "I am hurrying to catch a train at Cannon Street."
"Alone?"
Lucy did not ask to whom he referred. "Yes," she said.
"Thank you." He lifted his hat, and turned away without another word. With the reckless speed of a schoolboy he tore through the station, and overtook the object of his search as she passed inside the rail of the booking office.
"Two first-class tickets for Surbiton," he said, before she had time to speak.
"One third-class return for Surbiton," said Mona, with a dignity that strangely belied the beating of her heart.