Hilliard rose, advanced, and respectfully doffed his hat.

"Miss Madeley----"

The note was half interrogative, but his voice failed before he
could add another syllable. Eve drew herself up, rigid in the alarm
of female instinct.

"I am a stranger to you," Hilliard managed to say. "But I come from
Dudley; I know some of your friends----"

His hurried words fell into coherence. At the name "Dudley" Eve's
features relaxed.

"Was it you who called at my lodgings the day before yesterday?"

"I did. Your address was given me by Mrs. Brewer, in whose house I
have lived for a long time. She wished me to call and to give you a
kind message--to say how glad they would be to hear from you----"

"But you _didn't_ leave the message."

The smile put Hilliard at his ease, it was so gentle and friendly.

"I wasn't able to come at the time I mentioned. I should have called
to-morrow."

"But how is it that you knew me? I think," she added, without
waiting for a reply, "that I have seen you somewhere. But I can't
remember where."