‘Free of hope?’
‘Oh, no, never free of hope. Hope is an old habit, not easily dislodged. No, free of expectations. I reserve my hope for a good outcome, a good cause. That is important, I think. A good cause.’
The shadow of a man loomed up beside them.
‘Paul,’ said Philippa. ‘This is Anna Durrant. Anna, Paul Whitaker.’
‘Hallo,” said Anna. ‘Why don’t you take my seat? I’m just going. Goodbye, Philippa.’
Philippa looked at her, as if to pierce the secret of the new life which Anna had proclaimed. The expression was different, she decided. Previously it had been patient, attentive; now it was amused, ardent, even. The face was brighter, the cheeks more coloured. Animated now, as she had never been before, there was an air of alertness, of readiness about her. She looked as if she had woken from the long sleep which precedes convalescence. Even her figure, which was still slight, appeared more substantial.
Anna held out her hand. ‘Goodbye. Good luck.’ She hesitated. ‘You’re sure it was Halliday who noticed that I’d gone?’
‘Quite sure.’
They watched her slender back retreating. The traffic was dense, the rush hour at its height.
‘Who was that?’
‘Oh, just a friend. Someone I used to know.’
She saw Anna plunging into the stream of cars, holding up her hand to ward them off. The drivers, she noticed, seemed to take this in good part.
‘Someone I hardly knew at all,’ she amended. She turned to him, troubled. ‘You don’t mind if I go home tomorrow, do you? Only I don’t think I can go on with this.’
‘But Philippa, why? We’ve had some good times, haven’t we?’
His expression was concerned, rueful, but, she thought, polite.
‘Oh, yes. But it’s not a good cause, Paul. I don’t mind taking second place, but it must be in a good cause. I’ve known you a long time. And I’ve waited. You know where I am. You always knew where I was. Maybe you’ll come and find me one day. But until then it’s goodbye, I think.’
Like Anna, she hesitated, unwilling to take her leave. Then she turned resolutely, and followed the path which Anna had taken, out into the bright, dark, dangerous and infinitely welcoming street.
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