There was a moment's pause, then he stepped toward her and, very slowly, she offered a hand still faintly fragrant with "cream of lilacs."
A damp, chilly wind came from the corridor; she went over and closed the door, stood for a few seconds with her back against it looking at him.
Now under the mask of manhood she could see the boy she had once known,—under the short dark moustache the clean-cut mouth unchanged. Only his cheeks seemed firmer and leaner, and the eyes were now the baffling eyes of a man.
"How did you know I was here?" she asked, quite
unconscious of her own somewhat intimate attire, so entirely had the shock of surprise possessed her.
"Athalie, you have not changed a bit—only you are so much prettier than I realised," he said illogically.... "How did I know you lived here? I didn't until we bought this row of flats last week—my father's company—I'm in it now.... And glancing over the list of tenants I saw your name."
She said nothing.
"Do you mind my coming? I was going to write and ask you. But walking in this way rather appealed to me. Do you mind?"
"No."
"May I stay and chat for a moment? I'm on my way to the opera. May I stay a few minutes?"