“Yes, madam.” His voice, nearer: “Coming.” “Are the suitcases in?” “Yes, madam.” “Give me my coat, then.” “And, William, come and see us in London some time. Your brother is there, isn’t he?” “I will, madam, thank you.” Poor old thing, he was quite upset. It was rather terrible. Ah, here he was. How quickly he walked alone now. “Be careful, dear.” “I’m all right.” “Well, let’s get into the car. We have got plenty of time. Oh, William, the clock has stopped in the Hall there. I hope it isn’t broken. You had better get Brown’s man in to look at it.” They were off now. What did the clock matter as they weren’t coming back, but they sold better if they were going. John was waving. No, she couldn’t look back. “So we are going?” “Of course, dear.” He was so happy. They were in the car on the way to the station, how extraordinary after so many weeks’ work. Perhaps she had decided too quickly. Mabel, of course, had been right against it from the start. But the boy would only be happy in London, he wasn’t made for the country, especially after he had gone blind like that. Only the other day and here they were. Oh, there was the Vicarage. How fast they were going. “Hi! don’t go so fast.” “I love speed.” “But it’s so dangerous, dear.” “Where are we now?” “In the sunken bit. He has slowed down, that’s better. Dear boy, are you nearly enough wrapped up?” Farther away, farther away. Everything had been leading up to this. The road went by with a swish, the rain made the surface so wet. “Are you sure you haven’t forgotten anythin’? There may be still time to go back.” “I don’t think so.” There was the dove-cote. They were leaving so much behind. How fast the man drove. What was the good? But it was tiresome forgettin’ John’s box like that. It would put the excess luggage out, they would have to make a new bill, and that would take time. It would be a rush. There was Mrs. Trench. She hadn’t seen them, they were travellin’ so fast. She was about to have another baby. There must be something in the family, it was the only way to account for all the Trench babies dying as soon just as they were born. It brought the average of infant mortality in the village so high. “Where are we now?” “Why are you so jumpy, dear? We are just going under the leanin’ oak.” The leaning oak? There was a long way to go yet. The engine purred. London was the temple of machinery. It was hot in here. “Shall we have a window down?” “As you like. But it is rainin’.”