In another moment she had released her hand and was walking calmly away. Not a word had she said about hoping to see him again. He was conscious of an intense wish that she should not go; he was not strong enough, he found, to let her depart thus. He made a step forward.
"Miss Allonby."
She paused.
"I shall be in town for some weeks now, probably. May I come and see you at Mansfield Road?"
She turned to her brother.
"We shall be pleased to see Mr. Cranmer, if he cares to come, shall we not, Osmond?"
"Certainly," said Osmond, cordially.
"Which day is most convenient for you?"
"You will not find Osmond on Mondays or Thursdays, as he conducts a life-class at the Woodstead Art School on those days; any other day. Good-night."
She was gone. He felt half-angry that she had so easily led him on to waste time in talking of indifferent topics. Yet, had she left him to choose a subject, what would his choice have been?