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Gissing, George, 1857-1903

"The Unclassed"

But
now she had perhaps left the school, and he did not know her exact
address. He made his way across the Park in the direction of St.
John's Wood, and had soon reached South Bank.
He had walked once the length of the road, and was looking at the
nearest houses before he turned, when a lady came round the corner
and paused to avoid him, as he stood in the middle of the pavement.
It was Miss Enderby herself. Her embarrassment was apparently not as
great as his own. She smiled with friendliness; seemed indeed in a
happier frame of mind than any in which Waymark had as yet seen her.
But she did not offer her hand, and the other, having raised his
hat, was almost on the point of passing on, when he overcame his
diffidence and spoke.
"I came here to try and discover where you lived, Miss Enderby."
There was something grotesque in this abruptness; his tone only
saved it from impertinence. The girl looked at him with frank
surprise.
"Pray don't misunderstand me," he went on hurriedly. "I wished, if
possible, to--well, to tell you that I feared I acted
thoughtlessly the other day; without regard, I mean, to any
consequences it might have for yourself."
"Rather I ought to thank you for defending me.


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