He was absent for full three weeks, and arrived with his friends at the Gare de Lyon early one morning of September.

Narramore and the architect delayed only for a meal, and pursued their journey homeward; Hilliard returned to his old quarters despatched a post-card asking Eve and Patty to dine with him that evening, and thereupon went to bed, where for some eight hours he slept the sleep of healthy fatigue.
The place he had appointed for meeting with the girls was at the foot of the Boulevard St.Michel.Eve came alone.
"And where's Patty ?" he asked, grasping her hand heartily in return for the smile of unfeigned pleasure with which she welcomed him.
"Ah, where indeed?
Getting near to Charing Cross by now, I think." "She has gone back ?" "Went this very morning, before I had your card--let us get out of the way of people.

She has been dreadfully home-sick.

About a fortnight ago a mysterious letter came for her she hid it away from me.

A few days after another came, and she shut herself up for a long time, and when she came out again I saw she had been crying.