Page:The Tattooed Countess (1924).pdf/207

 At the corner of Brewster Street and Pleasant Avenue, only two blocks above Lou Poore's house, he encountered the one person he had the least desire to meet, especially today, Lennie Colman. He would have avoided the meeting, had he had sufficient warning of her approach, but she had turned the corner so suddenly that she was upon him before escape was possible. Fortunately, however, she was headed in the opposite direction to that he was taking.

Good afternoon, Gareth, she said, and he noted a suspiciously tremulous quality in her voice.

Good afternoon, Miss Colman.

Both stopped, but there was silence for a moment. Then the school-teacher asked: Well, how did you like the Countess? Lennie's manner was far from easy or assured.

O, all right. I just wanted to meet her. He spoke casually.

She asked you to call. ..

Yes.

Are you going to?

I don't know. I don't suppose she meant it.

Gareth, she reproached him, you haven't been to see me for days.

Mother's sick, you know.

No, I didn't. I'm so sorry. Is she in bed?

Yes. . . I'm going on an errand for her now.

In that case, of course, I mustn't keep you. She hesitated, and then went on awkwardly, I was going