"Beautiful in my eyes. The sort of face that Cleopatra might have had when she was that girl's age. I never saw such eyes, and I had plenty of opportunity of seeing them, for she seemed quite unconscious of my presence. Jack, I'm a shy man, and I'm often sorry for it, but I was never sorrier than I was then, for I'd have given anything to have been able to speak to her and hear her speak. There she sat, looking like a picture, quite motionless, with her eyes fixed on the flare of the lamp; and there I sat and couldn't pluck up courage to say a word. At last we got to London; they came for the tickets, and she couldn't find hers. I went down on my hands and knees, and at last I found the ticket under the seat. I looked at it as I gave it to the porter; and where do you think it was from?"
Jack shook his head. He didn't think it much of an adventure after Una and Warden Forest.
"You'll never guess. What do you say to Hurst Leigh?"
"Hurst Leigh! Why, who was she? Somebody I know, perhaps."
"I found my tongue at last, and said, 'You have had a long journey. Hurst Leigh is a beautiful place.' And what do you think she said?"
"She said, 'I don't know. I have never been there before today.' That's all until we got to the terminus, then I asked her if I could get her luggage. 'I haven't any,' she said. 'Could I get her a cab?' I asked. Yes, I might get her a cab. I went and found a cab and put her in it; and, if I had a shadow of a doubt as to her being a lady, the way in which she thanked me would have dispelled it. I asked her where I should direct the cabman to drive, and she said 24 Cheltenham Terrace. And--and then she went."
"Well, I--of course you'll call me a fool, Jack, I am quite aware of that--I followed in another cab."
"No. I followed, and when she had gone I knocked at the door of the next house and asked the name of the people who lived next door. They--for a wonder--were civil, and told me. She lives with her grandfather, and her name is Laura Treherne."
"Her name is Laura Treherne," said Leonard.
"Laura Treherne. Never heard the name before."
"Nor I, but it belongs to the most beautiful creature I have ever seen."
"That's because you haven't seen Una Rolfe," put in Jack, coolly. "But I say, Len, what has come to us? We've both caught the universal epidemic at the same time. It's nothing wonderful in me, you know--but you--_you_, who wouldn't look at a woman! Have you got it bad, Len?"