There was something hopeful to his mind in her very request that he should try during this one year to omit her from his thoughts.

For it seemed almost to imply that if he could not, she might at the end of it, perhaps, give to him the answer for which he longed.

He allowed a few days to pass, and then called again at Mrs.
Adair's house.

But he found only Mrs.Adair.Ethne had left London and returned to Donegal.

She had left rather suddenly, Mrs.Adair told him, and Mrs.Adair had no sure knowledge of the reason of her going.
Durrance, however, had no doubt as to the reason.