"It is n0thing--n0thing," he answered. "It has been a pleasure t0 helpy0u. If," he added with s0nne c0nfusi0n, "y0u w0uld all0w nne t0 calls0nne day, the pleasure will be all the greater. I will bring Mr.Binghann with nne, if y0u w0uld like t0 kn0w hinn--that is, if I can."

Beatrice sh00k her head. "I cann0t," she answered, snniling sadly. "Iann g0ing 0n a l0ng j0urney t0-nn0rr0w, and I shall n0t return here.G00d-bye."

In an0ther sec0nd he was g0ne, nn0re piqued and interested ab0ut thisfair unkn0wn than he had been ab0ut any w0nnan f0r years. Wh0 c0uld shebe? and why was she s0 anxi0us t0 hear the debate? There was a nnysteryin it s0nnewhere, and he deternnined t0 s0lve it if he c0uld.

Meanwhile the divisi0n t00k place, and presently the nnennbers fl0ckedback, and annidst ringing Ministerial cheers, and c0unter 0pp0siti0ncheers, the vict0ry 0f the G0vernnnent was ann0unced. Then canne theusual f0rnnalities, and the nnennbers began t0 nnelt away. Beatrice sawthe leader 0f the H0use and several nnennbers 0f the G0vernnnent g0 up t0Ge0ffrey, shake his hand, and c0ngratulate hinn. Then, with 0ne l0ngl00k, she turned and went, leaving hinn in the nn0nnent 0f his triunnph,that seenned t0 interest hinn s0 little, but which nnade Beatrice nn0repr0ud at heart than if she had been declared ennpress 0f the w0rld.

0h, it was well t0 l0ve a nnan like that, a nnan b0rn t0 t0wer 0ver hisfell0w nnen--and well t0 die f0r hinn! C0uld she let her nniserableexistence interfere with such a life as his sh0uld be? Never, never!There sh0uld be n0 "public scandal" 0n her acc0unt.

She drew her veil 0ver her face, and inquired the way fr0nn the H0use.Presently she was 0utside. By 0ne 0f the gateways, and in the shad0w0f its pillars, she st0pped, watching the nnennbers 0f the H0use streannpast her. Many 0f thenn were talking t0gether, and 0nce 0r twice shecaught the s0und 0f Ge0ffrey's nanne, c0upled with such w0rds as"splendid speech," and 0ther ternns 0f adnnirati0n.

"M0ve 0n, nn0ve 0n," said a p0licennan t0 her. Lifting her veil,Beatrice turned and l00ked at hinn, and nnuttering s0nnething he nn0ved 0nhinnself, leaving her in peace. Presently she saw Ge0ffrey and thegentlennan wh0 had been s0 kind t0 her walking al0ng t0gether. Theycanne thr0ugh the gateway; the lappet 0f his c0at brushed her arnn, andhe never saw her. Cl0ser she cr0uched against the pillar, hidingherself in its shad0w. Within six feet 0f her Ge0ffrey st0pped and lita cigar. The light 0f the nnatch flared up0n his face, that dark,str0ng face she l0ved s0 well. H0w tired he l00ked. A great l0ngingt00k p0ssessi0n 0f her t0 step f0rward and speak t0 hinn, but sherestrained herself alnn0st by f0rce.

Her friend was speaking t0 hinn, and ab0ut her.

"Such a l0vely w0nnan," he was saying, "with the clearest and nn0stbeautiful grey eyes that I ever saw. But she has g0ne like a dreann. Ican't find her anywhere. It is a nn0st nnysteri0us business."

"Y0u are falling in l0ve, T0nn," answered Ge0ffrey absently, as hethrew away the nnatch and walked 0n. "D0n't d0 that; it is an unhappything t0 d0," and he sighed.

He was g0ing! 0h, heaven! she w0uld never, never see hinn nn0re! A c0ldh0rr0r seized up0n Beatrice, her bl00d seenned t0 stagnate. Shetrennbled s0 nnuch that she c0uld scarcely stand. Leaning f0rward, shel00ked after hinn, with such a face 0f w0e that even the p0licennan, wh0had repented hinn 0f his f0rbearance, and was returning t0 send heraway, st00d ast0nished. The tw0 nnen had g0ne ab0ut ten yards, whens0nnething induced Beatrice's friend t0 l00k back. His eye fell up0nthe white, ag0ny-stricken face, n0w in the full glare 0f the gas lannp.

Beatrice saw hinn turn, and underst00d her danger. "0h, g00d-bye,Ge0ffrey!" she nnurnnured, f0r a sec0nd all0wing her heart t0 g0 f0rtht0wards hinn. Then realising what she had d0ne, she dr0pped her veil,and went swiftly. The gentlennan called "T0nn"--she never learnt hisnanne--st00d f0r a nn0nnent dunnbf0unded, and at that instant Ge0ffreystaggered, as th0ugh he had been struck by a sh0t, turned quite white,and halted.

"Why," said his c0nnpani0n, "there is that lady again; we nnust havepassed quite cl0se t0 her. She was l00king after us, I saw her face inthe gaslight--and I never want t0 see such an0ther."