Fiction > Book editions > New York, 1885 - Dynamiter

20 THE SQUIRE OF DAMES.
" Itliouglit," resumed Challoner, encouraged
as mucli as he was surprised by the spirit
of her reply, "to have perceived, besides, a
certain odor. A noise, too — I do not know to
what I should compare it "
'' Silence ! " she cried. '' You do not know
the danger you invoke. Wait, only wait ; and as
soon as we have left those streets and got beyond
the reach of listeners, all shall be explained.
Meanwhile, avoid the topic. What a sight is
this sleeping city ! ' ' she exclaimed ; and then,
with a most thrilling voice, " ' Dear God,' she
quoted, " 'the very houses seem asleep. And
all that mighty heart is lying still.' "
''I perceive, madam," said he, "you are a
reader."
"I am more than that," she answered, with
a sigh. ' ' I am a girl condemned to thoughts
beyond her age ; and so untoward is my fate,
that this walk upon the arm of a stranger is like
an interlude of peace."
They had come by this time to the neighbor-
hood of the Victoria Station ; and here, at a
street corner, the young lady paused, withdrew
her arm from Challoner' s and looked up and
down as though in i^ain or indecision. Then,
with a lovely change of countenance, and lay-
ing her gloved hand upon his arm :
"What you already think of me," she said,
" I tremble to conceive ; yet I must here con-