She
raised her cheek, and he had to kiss. She said, "God bless you!" and
he had to say, "Thank you."
As he was descending the outer steps, the pipe-case clipped under his
arm, Louis threw at him--
"I say, old man!"
"What?" He turned round with sharp defiance beneath the light of the
street-lamp.
"How are you going to get to London to-morrow morning in time for the
boat-train at Waterloo, if you're staying at Knype to-night."
Louis travelled little, but it was his foible to be learned in
boat-trains and "connections."
"A friend o' mine's motoring me to Stafford at five to-morrow morning,
if you want to know. I shall catch the Scotch express. Anything else?"
"Oh!" muttered Louis, checked.
Julian clanked the gate and vanished up the street, Mrs. Maldon
waving.
"What friend? What motor?" reflected Mrs. Maldon sadly. "He is
incorrigible with his secretiveness."
"Mrs. Maldon," said Rachel anxiously, "you look pale. Is it being in
this draught?" She shut the door.
Mrs. Maldon sighed and moved away. She hesitated at the parlour door
and then said--
"I must go upstairs a moment."
CHAPTER IV
IN THE NIGHT
I
Louis stood hesitant and slightly impatient in the parlour, alone.
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