Presently, wonderfully soon, as it seemed to her, the brougham came to a stop, and Jackson, bending down to the window, said:
"Spider Court," said Jack. "Then I'm home. I'm very much obliged to you, and I wish I didn't feel so much ashamed of myself. Hark! who's that?" for someone had come to the carriage door.
"Yes," said Jack, and he got out and closed the door. "This lady----"
Lady Bell leaned out and looked at Leonard Dagle's anxious face earnestly.
"Your friend has met with an accident," she said, "and I have brought him home."
"I hope he is not much hurt," said Lady Bell. "His forehead is cut. Will you--will you be so kind as to let me know if it is anything serious?"
"Anything serious! A mere scratch," ejaculated Jack, carelessly.
"Here is my card," she said, taking a card-case from the carriage basket. "Will you please let me know? Good-night."
Leonard did not see it, and merely raised his hat. But Jack, who was nearest, took the hand and held it for a moment.
"Good-night, good-night," he said. "I shall never forgive myself for causing you trouble."
And in his earnestness his hand, quite unconsciously, closed tightly on her white, warm palm.
Lady Bell dropped back into her seat, a warm flush spreading over her face; and Mrs. Fellowes, awakened by the stopping of the brougham, exclaimed, with a yawn:
"No, miles away," said Lady Bell. "Go to sleep again, my dear."
Leonard took Jack's arm within his, though there was no occasion for it, for Jack was sober enough now, and led him upstairs.
"My dear Jack," he exclaimed, reproachfully, "what have you been doing?"
"Falling under a cab," said Jack, gravely.
"A cab!" retorted Leonard; "a lady's brougham, you mean!"
"Why!" he exclaimed, with an expression of amazement. "Lady Isabel Earlsley! Good Heaven! that's the heiress."
"Eh?" said Jack, indifferently. "What's her name? She's a brick, if ever there was one. Oh, Jupiter, I wish I was in bed!"
It was Una's first night in London. Weary as she was she could not find sleep; the dull roar of the great city--which those who are used to take no heed of--rang in her ears and kept her awake. Her brain was busy, too; and even as she closed her eyes the endless questions, which the strange events of the day had given birth to, pursued and tormented her. She could scarcely realize that she had left Warden Forest, that she was here in London, the place of her most ardent dreams! And then how singular, how mysterious was that coincidence which had brought it about.