But he had not arrived at the college when I got there, and I did not wait for him. I had walked home with him often enough to know his unvarying route, and I set off for his place half expecting to meet him on the way. But I did not meet him, so I knocked at the brass knocker of his ivy-green door.
Jane told me he had only that moment gone out.
"To the college?" I asked.
Jane thought so, but was not sure.
"If I don't see him I'll call again," I said. "Tell him, will you?"
I returned to the Business College, and there waited, talking to Kitty, who had just arrived.
Kitty seemed extremely embarrassed that morning, and of course I guessed the reason. She had heard of the sky-blue uniform, doubtless through Archie. (For two nights I had not seen her.) I was none the less sure of this that she did not mention the circumstance directly; nor did she comment on my being at liberty at that unusual hour of the morning. Presently she said:
"I don't think he'll come this morning now. He may this afternoon."
"I can't wait till the afternoon," I said, glancing at the little clock on the mantelpiece of the type-writing-room—the little clock that had given the "Ting" that had startled me so on the day of the examination in Method.
"Is it anything I can tell him?"