All this work of the merest chance had been so unexpected, so sudden.

And she had nothing to fall back upon, no experience but such as to shake her belief in every human being.

She was dreadfully and pitifully forlorn.
It was almost in order to comfort my own depression that I remarked cheerfully: "Well, I know of somebody who must be growing extremely anxious to see you." "I am before my time," she confessed simply, rousing herself.

"I had nothing to do.

So I came out." I had the sudden vision of a shabby, lonely little room at the other end of the town.