Page:The Other House (London, William Heinemann, 1896), Volume 1.djvu/167

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THE OTHER HOUSE
153

"It never ceased to be my purpose to see you, if you would permit it, on the first opportunity. My opportunity," the young man continued, "has been precipitated by an accident. I returned to England only last week, and was obliged two days ago to come on business to Southampton. There I found I should have to go, on the same matter, to Marrington. It then appeared that to get to Marrington I must change at Plumbury———"

"And Plumbury," said Mrs. Beever, "reminded you that you changed there, that it was from there you drove, on that horrible Sunday."

"It brought my opportunity home to me. Without wiring you or writing you, without sounding the ground or doing anything I ought to have done, I simply embraced it. I reached this place an hour ago and went to the inn."

She looked at him wofully. "Poor dear young man!"

He turned it off. "I do very well. Remember the places I've come from."

"I don't care in the least where you've come from! If Rose weren't here I could put you up so beautifully."