Theacquaintancethusoddlyreopenedproceededapace。Sheoftenlookedouttogetafewwordswithhim，bynightorbyday。Hersorrowwasthatshecouldnotaccompanyheroneoldfriendonfootalittleway，andtalkmorefreelythanshecoulddowhilehepausedbeforethehouse。Onenight，atthebeginningofJune，whenshewasagainonthewatchafteranabsenceofsomedaysfromthewindow，heenteredthegateandsaidsoftly，’Now，wouldn’tsomeairdoyougood？I’veonlyhalfaloadthismorning。WhynotrideuptoCoventGardenwithme？There’saniceseatonthecabbages，whereI’vespreadasack。Youcanbehomeagaininacabbeforeanybodyisup。’
Sherefusedatfirst，andthen，tremblingwithexcitement，hastilyfinishedherdressing，andwrappedherselfupincloakandveil，afterwardssidlingdownstairsbytheaidofthehandrail，inawayshecouldadoptonanemergency。WhenshehadopenedthedoorshefoundSamonthestep，andheliftedherbodilyonhisstrongarmacrossthelittleforecourtintohisvehicle。Notasoulwasvisibleoraudibleintheinfinitelengthofthestraight，flathighway，withitsever-waitinglampsconvergingtopointsineachdirection。Theairwasfreshascountryairatthishour，andthestarsshone，excepttothenorth-eastward，wheretherewasawhitishlight——thedawn。Samcarefullyplacedherintheseat，anddroveon。
Theytalkedastheyhadtalkedinolddays，Sampullinghimselfupnowandthen，whenhethoughthimselftoofamiliar。Morethanonceshesaidwithmisgivingthatshewonderedifsheoughttohaveindulgedinthefreak。’ButIamsolonelyinmyhouse，’sheadded，’andthismakesmesohappy!’
’Youmustcomeagain，dearMrs。Twycott。Thereisnotimeo’dayfortakingtheairlikethis。’
Itgrewlighterandlighter。Thesparrowsbecamebusyinthestreets，andthecitywaxeddenseraroundthem。Whentheyapproachedtheriveritwasday，andonthebridgetheybeheldthefullblazeofmorningsunlightinthedirectionofSt。Paul’s，theriverglisteningtowardsit，andnotacraftstirring。