AfterthequietofLittlePrimpton,thehurryandthenoiseofVictoriawereasingularrelieftoJames.Waitingforhisluggage,hewatchedthevariousmovementsofthescene—thetrolliespushedalongwithwarningcries,theportersliftingheavypackagesontothebelliedroofofhansoms,thepeoplerunningtoandfro,thecrowdofcabsanddrivingout,hewasexhilaratedbytheconfusioninthestationyard,andtheintenselife,halfgay,halfsordid,oftheWiltonRoad.HetookaroominJermynStreet,accordingtoMajorForsyth'srecommendation,andwalkedtohisclub.JameshadbeenoutofLondonsolongthathecamebackwiththeemotionsofastrangercommonscenes,theglitterofshops,theturmoiloftheCircus,affectedhimwithpleasedsurprise,andwithachild'samusementhepausedtostareattheadvertisementsonahoarding.Helookedforwardtoseeingoldfriends,andonhiswaydownPiccadillyevenexpectedtomeetoneortwoofthemsaunteringalong.
Asamatterofform,Jamesaskedathisclubwhethertherewereanylettersforhim.
"Idon'tthinkso,sir,"saidtheporter,butturnedtothepigeon-holesandtookoutabundle.Helookedthemover,andthenhandedonetoJames.
"Hulloa,who'sthisfrom?"
Suddenlysomethinggrippedhishearthefeltthebloodrushtohischeeks,andacoldtremorranthroughallhislimbs.HerecognisedthehandwritingofMrs.Pritchard-Wallace,andtherewasapennystampontheenvelope.ShewasinEngland.TheletterhadbeenpostedinLondon.
Heturnedawayandwalkedtowardsatablethatstoodnearthewindowofthehall.Athousandrecollectionssurgedacrosshismemorytumultuouslythepaperwasscented(howcharacteristicthatwasofher,andinwhatbadtaste!)hesawatoncehersmileandthelookofhereyes.Hehadamaddesirepassionatelytokisstheletteraloadofwearinessfellfromhishearthefeltinsanelyhappy,asthoughangrystorm-cloudshadbeentornasunder,andthesuninitsgoldenmajestyshonecalmlyupontheearth....Then,withsuddenimpulse,hetoretheunopenedletterintoadozenpiecesandthrewthemaway.Hestraightenedhimself,andwalkedintothesmoking-room.
Jameslookedroundandsawnobodyheknew,quietlytookamagazinefromthetable,andsatdownbuttheblood-vesselsinhi