Limited as was her knowledge of the world, she felt convinced that Walter was a gentleman. She talked to him in a kindly, motherly tone, that soon drew him out.
At last, after beating about the bush, she said, in a straightforward way:
“You must excuse me, sir, if I take upon me to give you advice, but don't you think you had better go back to your friends?”
“Never!” he replied. “I will never go back to them. If you knew all, you would agree that I have been infamously treated! No, Mrs. Hartley, my resolution is taken. I am down, but I will make my way up in the world. To mount the ladder, one must begin at the lowest step.”
“I approve of your resolution, sir,” she rejoined, kindly; “and if you are determined, you cannot fail of success. You have youth, strength, good looks. I dare say, now,” she added, unable to repress her desire to know something more of him, “I dare say you think you have been wronged?”
“I have had great injustice done me,” he replied. “But you must not ask me any questions, Mrs. Hartley. I shall never speak of what I have been, unless----”
“Exactly, And many years may elapse before I can do that.”
“Ah! you don't know,” she replied with an encouraging smile. “But you must excuse me. I have got the house to attend to. You may like to see the paper?”
Having spent some little time over the daily paper which she gave him, Walter took up his hat, and went out.
Strolling leisurely along, he came to Lambeth Palace, and standing near the pier at the foot of the bridge, he watched the boats arriving and departing--landing passengers and carrying them away.
The lively scene served to amuse him. Among those who were embarking, he noticed a tall, thin man, dressed in black, whose sharp features were familiar to him.
The individual in question was only just in time, and as soon as he got on board, the boat was cast off, and took its course towards the other side of the river.
It had not gone far, when the tall, thin man, approaching the stern, descried Walter, and almost started at the sight of him.
They remained gazing at each other as long as the steam-boat continued in view, but no sign of recognition passed between them.
The sight of this person, whoever he might be, seemed to awaken a train of painful reflections in Walter's breast.