But, instead of doing so, he had buried himself in his Surrey lodging, striving to bring the sober and austere influences of the country to bear upon the feverish indecision of his mood.

Perhaps his disappearance and silence had wounded her; after all, he knew that he had some place in her thoughts.
The servant who opened the door demurred to his request to see Miss Bretherton.

'The doctor says, sir, that at home she must keep quiet; she has not seen any visitors just lately.' But Kendal persisted, and his card was taken in, while he waited the result.

The servant hurried along the ground-floor passage, knocked at the door at the farther end, went in for a moment, and came out beckoning to him.

He obeyed with a beating heart, and she threw open the door for him.
Inside stood Isabel Bretherton, with eager surprise and pleasure in her whole attitude.