Part 87 (1/2)

Presently Miss Van Tuyn got up to go.

”Going already?” said Garstin.

”Yes, I must.”

”Oh, well--”

”I will accompany you,” said Arabian.

She looked away from him and said nothing. Garstin went with them downstairs and opened the door.

”Bye-bye!” he said in a loud voice. ”See you again soon. Good luck to you!”

Arabian held out his hand.

”Good-bye.”

Miss Van Tuyn nodded without speaking. Garstin shut the door noisily.

They walked down Glebe Place in silence. When they got to the corner Arabian said:

”Are you in a hurry to-day?”

”No, not specially.”

”Shall we take a little walk? It is not very late.”

”A walk? Where to?”

”Shall we go along by the river?”

She hesitated. She was torn by conflicting feelings. She was very angry with Garstin. She still continued to say, though now to herself, ”I don't believe it! I don't believe it!” And yet she knew that Garstin's portrait had greatly increased her strange fear of Arabian.

”This way will take us to the river.”

She knew he was looking straight at her though she did not look at him.

At that moment a remembrance of Craven and Camber flashed through her mind.

”Yes, I know,” she said, ”But--”

”I am fond of the river,” he said.

”Yes--but in winter!”

”Let us go. Or will you come back to--”

”No, I will go. I like it too. London looks its best from the waterside.”

And she walked on again with him. He said nothing more, and she did not speak till they had crossed the broad road and were on the path by the dark river, which flowed at full tide under a heavy blackish grey sky.