Alan stood near the window; he saw a lady coming up the walk.
"A visitor," he said. "I'll be off."
Evelyn laughed.
"It is Ella Hallam; I don't think you have met her. She's an Australian girl, I went to school with her. She returned to Sydney when she finished her education, and only came to London a month ago. We have corresponded regularly. I like her very much; perhaps you may have heard me speak of her."
"I don't think I have," he said.
"Please don't go, I want to introduce you. She is coming to stay with me at The Forest when the Epsom meeting is over; her father races in Australia, I believe he once won the Melbourne Cup," she said.
Ella Hallam came into the room. When she saw Alan she said:
"I did not know you had a visitor. I ought to have asked. It is rude of me."
"Alan Chesney is an old friend," said Eve. "Allow me to introduce you."
They shook hands, their eyes met, and Ella Hallam felt something in her life was changed from that moment; as for Alan, he seemed quite unconscious he had created any interest out of the common.