'  I  solemnly  swear  that  I  will  not  come  on  Sunday  !'  he
said.  '  And  equally  solemnly  I  swear  I  will  make  you  tell
me  why  I  am  forbidden  to  come  on  that  day.'

'Why?'  said  Helena,  with  a  kind  of  half-laugh,  not  quite
free  from  an  hysterical  sound — 'why,  the  reason  is  simple
enough.     Because '


PROBA  TION.  347


The  omnibus  is  almost  more  relentless  in  its  punctuality
than  time  and  tide.  Not  another  word  could  be  exchanged.
They  ran  down  the  steps,  and  went  through  the  ignominious
performance  of  hailing  and  catching  the  vehicle.  Sebastian,
with  great  presence  of  mind,  did  manage  to  clasp  Helena's
hand  once  more,  and  to  repeat  the  words,

'  I  shall  come  soon,  and  not  on  Sunday.'

Then  he  stood  in  the  middle  of  Mosley  Street  gazing
after  the  omnibus,  until  an  uproar  caused  him  to  look  up,
and  he  found  himself  surrounded  with  infuriated  lorrie-drivers,
swearing  at  him  for  getting  into  the  way,  while  a  hansom
cabman  had  just  pulled  his  horse  up  on  to  its  very  haunches,
and  was  apostrophising  him  in  a  manner  the  reverse  of
complimentary.  Newspaper  boys  were  jeering  at  him,  and
an  indignant  policeman  was  ordering  him  to  move  on.
With  an  amiable  smile,  and  a  murmured  general  apology,
he  made  his  way  to  the  footpath,  and  then  on  to  the  station.
CHAPTER    II.
FENCING.
