He waited, compressing his lips, scrutinising each hansom that went by.

In the soft glow of one coming fast he saw a hand raised to the trap.

The cab stopped; George stepped out of the shadow and got in.

The cab went on, and Mrs.Bellew's arm was pressed against his own.
It was their simple formula for arriving at a restaurant together.
In the third of several little rooms, where the lights were shaded, they sat down at a table in a corner, facing each a wall, and, underneath, her shoe stole out along the floor and touched his patent leather boot.
In their eyes, for all their would-be wariness, a light smouldered which would not be put out.

An habitue, sipping claret at a table across the little room, watched them in a mirror, and there came into his old heart a glow of warmth, half ache, half sympathy; a smile of understanding stirred the crow's-feet round his eyes.