Sometimes he had stood there and wished that the dread tide could whelm him.

His mood was far other now; some power he did not understand had brought him here as to the place where he could best realise this great joy that had befallen him.
But the wind blew piercingly, and when at length he moved from the parapet, he found that his arms were quite numb; doubtless he had stood longer than he thought.

Instead of returning by the direct way, he walked along the Embankment It was all but deserted; the tread of a policeman echoed from the distance.

But in spite of the bitter sky, two people were sitting together on one of the benches--a young man and a work-girl; they were speaking scarcely above a whisper.

Gilbert averted his face as he passed them, and for the moment his eyes had their pain-stricken look.
Issuing into Westminster Bridge Road, he found himself once more amid a throng.