A Damsel in Distress

Suddenly she began to feel frightened. Some evil spirit, possibly

the kettle, seemed to whisper to her that she had been foolish in

coming here, to cast doubts on what she had hitherto regarded as

the one rock-solid fact in the world, her love for Geoffrey. Could

she have changed since those days in Wales? Life had been so

confusing of late. In the vividness of recent happenings those days

in Wales seemed a long way off, and she herself different from the

girl of a year ago. She found herself thinking about George Bevan.

It was a curious fact that, the moment she began to think of George

Bevan, she felt better. It was as if she had lost her way in a

wilderness and had met a friend. There was something so capable, so

soothing about George. And how well he had behaved at that last

interview. George seemed somehow to be part of her life. She could

not imagine a life in which he had no share. And he was at this

moment, probably, packing to return to America, and she would never

see him again. Something stabbed at her heart. It was as if she

were realizing now for the first time that he was really going.

She tried to rid herself of the ache at her heart by thinking of

Wales. She closed her eyes, and found that that helped her to

remember. With her eyes shut, she could bring it all back--that

rainy day, the graceful, supple figure that had come to her out of

the mist, those walks over the hills . . . If only Geoffrey would

come! It was the sight of him that she needed.

"There you are!"

Maud opened her eyes with a start. The voice had sounded like

Geoffrey's. But it was a stranger who stood by the table. And not

a particularly prepossessing stranger. In the dim light of Ye Cosy

Nooke, to which her opening eyes had not yet grown accustomed, all

she could see of the man was that he was remarkably stout. She

stiffened defensively. This was what a girl who sat about in

tea-rooms alone had to expect.

"Hope I'm not late," said the stranger, sitting down and breathing

heavily. "I thought a little exercise would do me good, so I

walked."

Every nerve in Maud's body seemed to come to life simultaneously.

She tingled from head to foot. It was Geoffrey!

He was looking over his shoulder and endeavouring by snapping his

fingers to attract the attention of the nearest distressed

gentlewoman; and this gave Maud time to recover from the frightful

shock she had received. Her dizziness left her; and, leaving, was

succeeded by a panic dismay. This couldn't be Geoffrey! It was

outrageous that it should be Geoffrey! And yet it undeniably was

Geoffrey. For a year she had prayed that Geoffrey might be given

back to her, and the gods had heard her prayer. They had given her

back Geoffrey, and with a careless generosity they had given her

twice as much of him as she had expected. She had asked for the

slim Apollo whom she had loved in Wales, and this colossal

changeling had arrived in his stead.