Access Online - The European Library

STRONG AS DEATH.283to the door through which she had to pass, andshe heard one of them say:" Very quietly done, if it was so; and I'mpretty sure it was;Icouldn't be mistaken inTatlow."The words conveyed no meaning, no alarm toHarriet. She went on, and out into the crowdedstreet. She walked along way before she felt thatshe could bear the restraint, "the sitting still impliedby driving in any vehicle. But when shereached Tokenhouse-yard, and found that nothingyvas known there of Routh, that no message hadbeen received from him since he had left thatevening, she got into a cab and went home.Nonews there, no message,no letter. Nothing forher to do but wait, to wait as patiently as shecould, while the servantsspeculated upon thequeerstate of affairs, commented upon " master's" absenceon the preceding night, and hoped he hadnot " bolted" — a proceeding w-hich they understoodwas not uncommonin the case of gentlemenof Routh's anomalous and dim profession. Nothingfor her to do but to wait,nothingbut the hardestofall tasks, the most agonising of all sufferings. And