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arm …
'What you already think of me；' she said； 'I tremble to
conceive； yet I must here condemn myself still further。 Here
I must leave you； and here I beseech you to wait for my
return。 Do not attempt to follow me or spy upon my actions。
Suspend yet awhile your judgment of a girl as innocent as
your own sister； and do not； above all； desert me。 Stranger
as you are； I have none else to look to。 You see me in
sorrow and great fear； you are a gentleman； courteous and
kind： and when I beg for a few minutes' patience； I make
sure beforehand you will not deny me。'
Challoner grudgingly promised； and the young lady； with a
grateful eye…shot； vanished round the corner。 But the force
of her appeal had been a little blunted； for the young man
was not only destitute of sisters； but of any female relative
nearer than a great…aunt in Wales。 Now he was alone；
besides； the spell that he had hitherto obeyed began to
weaken； he considered his behaviour with a sneer； and
plucking up the spirit of revolt； he started in pursuit。 The
reader； if he has ever plied the fascinating trade of the
noctambulist； will not be unaware that； in the neighbourhood
of the great railway centres； certain early taverns
inaugurate the business of the day。 It was into one of these
that Challoner； coming round the corner of the block； beheld
his charming companion disappear。 To say he was surprised
were inexact； for he had long since left that sentiment
behind him。 Acute disgust and disappointment seized upon his
soul； and with silent oaths； he damned this commonplace
enchantress。 She had scarce been gone a second； ere the
swing…doors reopened； and she appeared again in company with
a young man of mean and slouching attire。 For some five or
six exchanges they conversed together with an animated air；
then the fellow shouldered again into the tap； and the young
lady； with something swifter than a walk； retraced her steps
towards Challoner。 He saw her coming； a miracle of grace；
her ankle； as she hurried； flashing from her dress； her
movements eloquent of speed and youth； and though he still
entertained some thoughts of flight； they grew miserably
fainter as the distance lessened。 Against mere beauty he was
proof： it was her unmistakable gentility that now robbed him
of the courage of his cowardice。 With a proved adventuress
he had acted strictly on his right； with one who； in spite of
all； he could not quite deny to be a lady； he found himself
disarmed。 At the very corner from whence he had spied upon
her interview； she came upon him； still transfixed； and …
'Ah！' she cried； with a bright flush of colour。 'Ah！
Ungenerous！'
The sharpness of the attack somewhat restored the Squire of
Dames to the possession of himself。
'Madam；' he returned； with a fair show of stoutness； 'I do
not think that hitherto you can complain of any lack of
generosity； I have suffered myself to be led over a
considerable portion of the metropolis； and if I now request
you to discharge me of my office of protector； you have
friends at hand who will be glad of the succession。'
She stood a moment dumb。
'It is well；' she said。 'Go！ go； and may God help me！ You
have seen me … me； an innocent girl！ fleeing from a dire
catastrophe and haunted by sinister men； and neither pity；
curiosity； nor honour move you to await my explanation or to
help in my distress。 Go！' she repeated。 'I am lost indeed。'
And with a passionate gesture she turned and fled along the
street。
Challoner observed her retreat and disappear； an almost
intolerable sense of guilt contending with the profound sense
that he was being gulled。 She was no sooner gone than the
first of these feelings took the upper hand； he felt； if he
had done her less than justice； that his conduct was a
perfect model of the ungracious； the cultured tone of her
voice； her choice of language； and the elegant decorum of her
movements； cried out aloud against a harsh construction； and
between penitence and curiosity he began slowly to follow in
her wake。 At the corner he had her once more full in view。
Her speed was failing like a stricken bird's。 Even as he
looked； she threw her arm out gropingly； and fell and leaned
against the wall。 At the spectacle； Challoner's fortitude
gave way。 In a few strides he overtook her and； for the
first time removing his hat； assured her in the most moving
terms of his entire respect and firm desire to help her。 He
spoke at first unheeded； but gradually it appeared that she
began to comprehend his words； she moved a little； and drew
herself upright； and finally； as with a sudden movement of
forgiveness； turned on the young man a countenance in which
reproach and gratitude were mingled。 'Ah； madam；' he cried；
'use me as you will！' And once more； but now with a great
air of deference； he offered her the conduct of his arm。 She
took it with a sigh that struck him to the heart； and they
began once more to trace the deserted streets。 But now her
steps； as though exhausted by emotion； began to linger on the
way； she leaned the more heavily upon his arm； and he； like
the parent bird； stooped fondly above his drooping convoy。
Her physical distress was not accompanied by any failing of
her spirits； and hearing her strike so soon into a playful
and charming vein of talk； Challoner could not sufficiently
admire the elasticity of his companion's nature。 'Let me
forget；' she had said； 'for one half hour； let me forget；'
and sure enough； with the very word； her sorrows appeared to
be forgotten。 Before every house she paused； invented a name
for the proprietor； and sketched his character： here lived
the old general whom she was to marry on the fifth of the
next month； there was the mansion of the rich widow who had
set her heart on Challoner； and though she still hung wearily
on the young man's arm； her laughter sounded low and pleasant
in his ears。 'Ah；' she sighed； by way of commentary； 'in
such a life as mine I must seize tight hold of any happiness
that I can find。'
When they arrived； in this leisurely manner； at the head of
Grosvenor Place； the gates of the park were opening and the
bedraggled company of night…walkers were being at last
admitted into that paradise of lawns。 Challoner and his
companion followed the movement； and walked for awhile in
silence in that tatterdemalion crowd； but as one after
another； weary with the night's patrolling of the city
pavement； sank upon the benches or wandered into separate
paths； the vast extent of the park had soon utterly swallowed
up the last of these intruders； and the pair proceeded on
their way alone in the grateful quiet of the morning。
Presently they came in sight of a bench； standing very open
on a mound of turf。 The young lady looked about her with
relief。
'Here；' she said； 'here at last we are secure from listeners。
Here； then； you shall learn and judge my history。 I could
not bear that we should part； and that you should still
suppose your kindness squandered upon one who was unworthy。'
Thereup