luxury of a taxi and drove to her new lodgings in state.

"If it isn't too much out of the way, would you take me by way of
Trafalgar Square, please."

The chauffeur touched his cap. His "Yes, Miss," was non-committal.

She was conscious of an unusual feeling of exaltation as she went along.
London, while it can be one of the most depressing cities in the world
when one is alone and friendless, quickens the imagination. As they went
through Trafalgar Square and caught a fleeting glimpse of the National
Gallery, Nora resolved that she would give herself a real treat and
renew old acquaintance with that institution as well as see the Wallace
collection and the Tate Gallery, both of which would be new to her. She
realized more poignantly than ever how starved her love of beauty had
been for the last ten years. It awoke in her afresh with the thought
that for a few days, at least, she could permit herself the luxury of
gratifying it.

She was shown to her room by a neat maid who said she would see what
might be done in the way of a light tea. As a rule breakfast was the
only repast that was supposed to be furnished. But she was quite sure
Miss Horn, the proprietor, would, in view of the fact that the young
lady was a stranger in London and would hardly know where to go alone
for a bite of dinner, make an exception.

Nora thanked her and set about making the bare little room, which was
quite at the top of the house, look a little more homelike by unpacking
some of her own things. After all, she reflected, it wasn't much less
cheerful than the room she had had for ten years. Perhaps her late