Page:Adams - A Child of the Age.djvu/192

180 quick move back again. I awoke after that: and saw Rosy standing by the door, and the room filled with light not the gaslight.

'Is it time to go?' I asked.

'Yes,' she said.

I got up,

'Now, what about the cab? Where is this mews place you told me about. Rosy!' 'The cab 's downstairs at the door waiting.'

'You didn't go and get it, did you?'

'Yes, I got it!' A pause.

'What's that?' I asked, looking at a bundle on the table.

'My things.'

'You needn't take them, you know,' I said.

'But'

'No; we'll get everything we want in Paris.'

'But'

'There, now! there, now!' said I, putting my arm round her, and getting her along, expostulating, to the door and opening it. 'Don't talk any more about it! It's no good talking about it! Get along!'

'But' she said, turning at the top of the stairs. I put my hand on her mouth, whispering: 'You'll have Miss Martin up in a moment. Do you owe Mrs. Smith anything?'

'No,' she said, Hush!

She went down the dark stairs, I following her.

Mrs. Smith was standing by her door. She made a sort of curtsey to me.

'Good-morning, sir,' she said.

'Good-morning,' I said.

She had the door open for us in a moment Rosy went out quickly, and was into the cab (a hansom), and I followed, without a further word or sign to the old devil. As I was getting in, I told the man 'Charing Cross,' over the roof, and then sank down beside her.

'I have had rather a hard day of it on the whole,' I said.

'But why did you make me leave'