Waiting, she stood at the window to look for the postman.

Presently she saw him in the distance; he approached quickly, but spent an unendurable minute out of sight in the shop next door.

When he emerged Hilda was in anguish.

Had he a letter for her?
Had he not?
He seemed to waver at the gateway, and to decide to enter....

She heard the double blow of his drumstick baton....