Page:Herbert Jenkins - The Rain Girl.djvu/152



S Beresford entered the dining-room of the Imperial at Folkestone, he was conscious that for him the whole world had changed. To-night he would meet the Rain-Girl again. His heart was hammering against his ribs, his throat seemed to contract and his muscles relax. There was a curious buzzing in his ears. Did people feel like that when they were about to faint? What a sensation it would create if he were suddenly to collapse. Tallis had warned him against excitement. The approach of the maître d'hôtel steadied him a little. Beresford murmured his name and was led to a small table laid for one—he had stipulated for a table to himself. With a supreme effort he took himself in hand and looked round the room. Heavens! what luck. There she was sitting at the next table, alone. He was thankful that her back was towards him.

He ordered a cocktail to steady his nerves, conscious that his hands were trembling with excitement. He noticed that the other diners had almost finished 148