OnhissecondvisittoLondon,Jameswasmorefortunate,forimmediatelyhegotinsidehisclubhefoundanoldfriend,amannamedBarker,lateadjutantofhisregiment.BarkerhadagreatdealtotellJamesofmutualacquaintance,andthepairdinedtogether,goingafterwardstoamusic-hall.Jamesfeltinbetterspiritsthanforsometimepast,andhisgoodhumourcarriedhimwellintothefollowingday.Intheafternoon,whilehewasreadingapaper,Barkercameuptohim.
"Isay,oldchap,"hesaid,"Iquiteforgottotellyouyesterday.YourememberMrs.Wallace,don'tyou—Pritchard,ofthatilk?She'sintown,andinapassionwithyou.Shesaysshe'swrittentoyoutwice,andyou'vetakennonotice."
"Really?Ithoughtnobodywasintownnow."
"SheisIforgetwhy.Shetoldmealongstory,butIdidn'tlisten,asIknewitwouldbemostlyfibs.She'sprobablyuptosomemischief.Let'sgoroundtoherplaceandhavetea,shallwe?"
"IhardlythinkIcan,"repliedJames,reddening."I'vegotanengagementatfour."
"Rot—comeon!She'sjustasstunningasever.ByGad,youshouldhaveseenherinherweeds!"
"Inherweeds!Whatthedevildoyoumean?"
"Didn'tyouknow?P.W.wasbowledoveratthebeginningofthewar—afterColenso,Ithink."
"ByGod!—Ididn'tknow.Ineversaw!"
"Oh,well,Ididn'tknowtillIcamehome....Let'sstrollalong,shallwe?She'slookingoutfornumbertwobutshewantsmoney,sothere'snodangerforus!"
Jamesrosemechanically,andputtingonhishat,accompaniedBarker,allunwittingofthethunder-blowthathiswordshadbeen....Mrs.Wallacewasathome.Jameswentupstairs,forgettingeverythingbutthatthewomanhelovedwasfree—free!Hisheartbeatsothathecouldscarcelybreathehewasafraidofbetrayinghisagitation,andhadtomakeadeliberateefforttocontainhimself.
Mrs.WallacegavealittlecryofsurpriseonseeingJames....Shehadnotchanged.Theblackgownshewore,fashionable,butslightlyfantastic,setoffthedazzlingoliveclearnessofherskinandtherichcolourofherhair.Jamesturnedpalewiththepassionthatconsumedhimhecouldhardlyspeak.
"Youwretch!"shecried,hereyessparkling,"I'v