Chapter 2
Late in the afternoon of a brilliant October day, Alexandra
Bergson, dressed in a black suit and traveling-hat, alighted at the
Burlington depot in Lincoln. She drove to the Lindell Hotel, where
she had stayed two years ago when she came up for Emil's
Commencement. In spite of her usual air of sureness and
self-possession, Alexandra felt ill at ease in hotels, and she was
glad, when she went to the clerk's desk to register, that there
were not many people in the lobby. She had her supper early,
wearing her hat and black jacket down to the dining-room and
carrying her handbag. After supper she went out for a walk.
It was growing dark when she reached the university campus. She
did not go into the grounds, but walked slowly up and down the
stone walk outside the long i
