Parable, turning his gaze westward, became
aware of the lady's presence.
From information that has subsequently come to my knowledge, I am
prepared to believe that Mr. Parable, from the beginning, really
thought the lady was a friend of his. What the lady thought is a
matter for conjecture; I can only speak to the facts. Mr. Parable
looked at the lady once or twice. Indeed, one might say with truth
that he kept on doing it. The lady, it must be admitted, behaved
for a while with extreme propriety; but after a time, as I felt must
happen, their eyes met, and then it was I heard her say:
"Good evening, Mr. Parable."
She accompanied the words with the same peculiar smile to which I
have already alluded. The exact words of Mr. Parable's reply I
cannot remember. But it was to the effect that he had thought from
the first that he had known her but had not been quite sure. It was
at this point that, thinking I saw my colleague approaching, I went
to meet him. I found I was mistaken, and slowly retraced my steps.
I passed Mr. Parable and the lady. They were talking together with
what I should describe as animation. I went as far as the southern
extremity of the suspension bridge, and must have waited there quite
ten minutes before returning eastward.
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