In the station yard she narrowly escaped being run over by the numerous
'buses that were constantly either entering or leaving. Her first
impulse was to mount one of these and let it take her where it would,
but condemning this as a foolish fancy, she crossed the road, and
commenced to wander down the street directly facing the station. But the
wide grandeur of Victoria Street was oppressive. She was anxious to find
the cheaper parts of London, and get settled in a moderate-priced hotel
or boarding-house without delay. This feeling of absolute homelessness
was dreadful.
She was passing an attractive-looking refreshment-shop. It was now about
twenty to twelve, and at noon she was accustomed to her first serious
meal. She became aware that she was sinking for lack of food, and
entering, ordered something to eat.
The neighbouring establishment was devoted to the sale of religious
pictures, crucifixes and other church requisites, but taking advantage
of the great width of the pavement, the enterprising proprietor had
placed outside his window some tressels and a board, which was now
covered with numerous second-hand books, under the protection of a small
boy.
As Evarne ate her meal she distracted her thoughts by watching a girl
who was seemingly proposing to purchase a volume, for she was bestowing
upon them a protracted study. First one was picked up and glanced into,
then another, but Evarne soon saw that it was not the printed wisdom
that was filling her mind. Every few seconds her eyes cast anxious
glances in the direction of the station, and ere long she abandoned even
the pretence of book-gazing, and stood there, frankly waiting and
watching for somebody.
She had obviously made her toilette with great care and attention to
detail. She wore a long coat and a white hat with a black feather
drooping over towards her shoulder. She had on spotless white kid gloves
and smart shoes, and a little bunch of blossoms was fastened at her
throat by a small pearl brooch. Noticing all this, Evarne guessed at
once what it was that kept this girl loitering about thus long, gazing
so earnestly towards the station. "She is in love--I can see plainly.
Little fool! It will only bring her misery," was the verdict of this
young cynic, for suddenly the far-distant temple at Karnak had risen
again in her memory; she could see the cruel eye, the set lips, of the
Egyptian goddess of Love--of Sekhet--in her implacable silent power.
At length Evarne felt compelled to take her departure. But to where? Who
could advise her? She studied the countenance of the damsel by whom she
had been waited upon. It was not unpretty, but oh! so sadly shallow and
unsympathetic. No kindly aid would be forthcoming from that quarter.
Silently she quitted the shop.