Meanwhile, I can only beg of you of your kindness to trust me.
We shall not meet again, I fear, for years.

But I shall never forget you--you, the kind counsellor, who have half turned me aside from my life's Purpose.

One word more, and I should falter .-- In very great haste, and amid much disturbance, yours ever affectionately and gratefully, "HILDA." It was a hurried scrawl in pencil, as if written in a train.

I felt utterly dejected.

Was Hilda, then, leaving England?
Rousing myself after some minutes, I went straight to Sebastian's rooms, and told him in brief terms that Nurse Wade had disappeared at a moment's notice, and had sent a note to tell me so.
He looked up from his work, and scanned me hard, as was his wont.