Part II chapter I

Three weeks before, when Paul was dismissed from the Bonanza, Lena had watched it all with a heavy heart. She was glad when she had a chance of calling on Paul that same evening. She believed that in some way she had helped him. But as the days passed and she did not see him again, life became strangely empty. She was in low spirits again, such as she had not known since the time of her tragedy.

The tragedy had taken place two years before, when she had worked at a hotel in the town of Astbury. She was happy at that time She liked the town and the work and she felt that she was liked by the other people who worked at the hotel. Every other Saturday she had a half day off. It was pleasant to go by train to Wortley and spend the afternoon looking through the shops. At five o'clock she had tea at a little café and then caught the six o'clock train to Astbury. It was a two-mile walk from the station to the hotel. One Saturday evening in late summer, Lena set out home from the station. It was already dark and she had an unpleasant feeling that somebody was watching her. When she heard a noise behind her on the road she walked faster, almost ran. Suddenly an arm was thrown about her neck. She struggled but it was all useless. There were five young men who had attacked her. She was thrown heavily on the ground and struck her head against a stone.

When she came to herself she tried to rise, fell again, then with difficulty dragged herself to the hotel. The whole town talked of what had happened to the girl. The police looked for the bandits but they were never found. Everybody was sorry for Lena. The owners of the hotel were very kind to her. But just the same she wanted to get away from Astbury. There was a good reason for this. Although she told no one, she had discovered that she was to have a child.

At this time one of the guests at the hotel was a man named Dunn. He was a journalist and he often came to Astbury to have a rest and go fishing. He became interested in Lena. He thought, as he dreamed by the river, that he would like to write a book about Lena. When her tragedy happened he was ready to help her. Without saying much he arranged for her to get away to Wortley, to a woman named Hanley, an old friend of his. Dunn was not a rich man and he had a wife and family. But just the same he thought that it was his duty to stand by Lena in her trouble. Lena gave birth to a child who lived only a few weeks. It was months before Lena was herself again. When she found a job at the café Dunn would often stop in for a coffee on his way to work and talk to her.

When Lena got home from the shop she did a lot of work about the house. Her two rooms were so clean that they nearly shone.

Lena often thought of Paul. She tried to think of something else but could not. Her feeling was stronger than she. At last she could not fight it any longer. On the following night she went to Paul's flat in Poole Street and asked if she might see him. Mrs. Coppin looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"He's gone," Mrs. Coppin told her.

Lena grew pale.

"Where did he go?" she asked.

"I've no idea. I can tell you that the police came and asked me about him. I had to keep his things for his rent," she added.

Lena thought a moment, then said:

"If I pay you, can I take away his things?"

Mrs. Coppin agreed. Lena took home Paul's things. Now she was sure that something was wrong with the young man.

Then, at the Bonanza, she had news of him. Next morning, as she went in, one of the shop-girls was telling an incident. All the other girls stood round her, listening with great interest.

"I tell you," the girl said. "There I was, going to the cinema with my young man, when I saw him, carrying a bill-board. At first I hardly recognized him — he was so thin and looked so unhappy! And I stood and watched him while he passed by. He didn't see me."

Since that day Lena began to look for Paul. Every morning, as she went to work, and every evening when she returned, she chose the poorer streets of the city, hoping to meet him somewhere.