I'll give you a star...

Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all

The incipient attraction is fraught with an inexplicable charm,
the beauty of love is in change.(J.-B. Moliere)

Clementine hesitantly crossed the threshold of a small shop. She received this address in a note from Mr. Gill, who described in detail the place of their meeting.

The girl, of course, was worried, agreeing to this adventure. But the blood-stirring feeling of excitement and a pleasant feeling of falling in love pushed me to take such a risky step. However, caution was paramount, and the young man took care of it.

"Dear Miss K., this day is coming.
I have foreseen all possible dangers to avoid publicity.
The idea is simple in execution. Tell the coachman to stop the carriage on R Street near the green house. Many people know this distinctive label, so there will be no misunderstanding. Further along the shopping alley to a dead end, there you will see an old battered sign "Apotheca". In this shop, you will be met by Mr. O'Neill, who is easily recognizable by his gray hair escaping from under a black cap, and the habit of smoking a pipe while working with medicinal ointments and powders.
Avoiding names, just say that Charing Cross Hospital has placed an order. Mr. O'Neill will be aware of this phrase.
I'll expect you there at 2 p.m.
Please accept the assurances of my deep respect.
I.G."

Therefore, Clementine could only choose a companion for this little adventure, trusting Mr. Gill, and arrange her absence from home during the date. But it was not difficult to do this on the appointed day, canceling lunch with Charlotte.

She mentioned lunch at her best friend's several times in passing in front of her mother in order to escape to the long-awaited meeting on the right day.
The mere thought of his audacity amused the young lady. But, despite her frivolous attitude, the action plan was thought out to the smallest detail.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, Clementine sent Betty's maid to her friend with a note that she was not well. She herself, taking a dark cloak with her, caught a carriage and drove to the next street to wait for her faithful maid.
Betty, not trusting her mistress's secret admirer-student, persuaded her to allow her fiance, a rather strong fellow named Nicholas, to accompany them. The young man turned out to be a printer worker. He, like Betty, was from a small town in the north of England, so the young and became friends, arriving in London in search of work.

To the specified place, the trio, like conspirators, drove in silence, not even exchanging glances. The dull noise of the carriage wheels dissolved into the sounds of the street, where life went on as usual: loudly, shoutingly, somewhere plaintively drawling, but still loudly. Once near the green house, Clementine and her companions hurried to leave the carriage. And, mingling with the crowd, they reached a certain shop. The inscription on the sign read "Apotheca".A mysterious twilight reigned inside, which gave the adventure a special charm and a fleur of mystery. The walls of the trading hall were occupied by massive glazed shelves, on which jars and flasks with pharmacy raw materials were placed. A gray-haired pharmacist was working behind the counter, slowly mixing powders and writing formulas in a battered notebook with a black goose quill. He did all this without taking his pipe out of his mouth and puffing clouds of blue tart smoke.

"Good afternoon, Charing Cross Hospital has placed an order," Clementine took off her hood and, in a slightly trembling voice, uttered a memorized phrase, addressing Mr. O'Neill.

He nodded and, uttering something indistinctly, disappeared through the door into the next room, continuing to smoke with his pipe.

Betty, encouraging her mistress, squinted at Nicholas, who was carefully examining the bottles with various contents. He strutted with his hands clasped behind his back and completely forgot about the young miss.