Her soft tone was much more like what he had expected to hear than her utterances hitherto.
"Have you always lived at Dudley ?" she asked.
He sketched rapidly the course of his life, without reference to domestic circumstances.

Before he had ceased speaking he saw that Eve's look was directed towards something at a distance behind him; she smiled, and at length nodded, in recognition of some person who approached.

Then a voice caused him to look round.
"Oh, there you are! I have been hunting for you ever so long." As soon as Hilliard saw the speaker, he had no difficulty in remembering her.

It was Eve's companion of the day before yesterday, with whom she had started for the theatre.

The girl evidently felt some surprise at discovering her friend in conversation with a man she did not know; but Eve was equal to the situation, and spoke calmly.
"This gentleman is from my part of the world--from Dudley.