I would like to ask his pardon.

Ah, yes, yes!" Then he sat down and took her hand, and held it long in the silence.
"It all feels so empty--so empty," she said at last, as the tower-clock struck hollow on the air.
The old man could not reply, but he drew her close to him, and Hovey, from the door, saw his tears dropping on her white hair.
Gaston went to Manchester Square.

He half dreaded a meeting with Alice, and yet he wished it.

He did not find her.

She had gone to Paris with her uncle, the servant said.