"You know me," said Rachel, hurriedly; "I have seen that for some time.
May I ask if you are Mr. Steel?"
"I am."
"The Mr. Steel who sent me his card after the trial?"
Steel bowed.
"As a perfect stranger?"
"As a perfect stranger who had watched you for a whole long week in
court."
Rachel ignored the relative clause.
"And because I would not see you, Mr. Steel, you have followed me, and
forced yourself upon me!"
The train stopped, and Rachel rose.
"You will gather my motives when you recall our conversation," observed
Steel; and he opened the door for her. But Rachel turned to him before
alighting.
"Mr. Steel," said she, "I am quite sure that you mean kindly and well,
and that I above all women should feel supremely grateful; but I cannot
help thinking that you are unjust to the man in the street!"
"Better give him a trial," said Steel, coldly enough in his turn.
"I should prefer to," rejoined Rachel, getting out; and there was no
little sting in the intonation of the verb; but Mr. Steel was left
smiling and nodding very confidently to himself.
CHAPTER V
THE MAN IN THE STREET
Rachel's perturbation was only the greater from her success in
concealing, or at least suppressing it, during the actual process of
this singular interview.
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