He went back then and there to the office of his big newspaper and wrote a guarded little note as follows:—
"DEAR MISS ARMITAGE,
I wonder if you remember a grumpy old fellow who travelled with you on your first journey to London rather more than a year ago? You never told me your name, but I kept a note of the address you gave through me to your taxi-driver, and through that address I have just by chance heard that you and the Miss Armitage who corrected the proofs of a wonderful book recently published are one and the same person. May I call and see you? Yours sincerely,
JOHN HARRINGTON."
He waited impatiently for the answer, but none came for several days.
At last he received a simple and courteous "put off," thus expressed:—
"DEAR MR. HARRINGTON,
I remember you very well—you were most kind, and I am grateful for your thought of me. But I hope you will not think me rude if I ask you not to call. I am living as a paying guest with an old lady whose health is not very strong and who does not like me to receive visitors, and you can understand that I try not to inconvenience her in any way. I do hope you are well and successful.
Yours sincerely,
ENA ARMITAGE."
He folded up the note and put it in his pocket.