Before Arthur could make any reply to this characteristic piece of advice, the train had slackened speed, and looking out, he announced that they had arrived at Switcham. It was, as I before remarked, a small unpretending station, very quiet as a rule, which made the crowds assembled in and about it all the more remarkable. “What _can_ be going on?” said Honor. “John, look at those people. Maybe the Queen is coming along the line;” and she looked out curiously upon the throng, as the long train slowly rolled on towards it. Suddenly there was heard a shout--the welcome cry of a hundred tongues, as the bride’s fair face was recognised, and John Beacham, the man whom both rich and poor loved and respected, was known to be once more amongst them. Honor drew back, embarrassed and distressed. “O, John! it’s because of our coming home,” she whispered; but John was too busy, and, if the truth must be told, too pleased at this public reception, to be very ready with his sympathy. “Switcham! Switcham!” shouted the bustling official, as he threw open the carriage-door; and in a moment John was on the platform, his hands full of packages, and a broad smile of unmitigated happiness lighting up his honest face. “Can I be of any use? Hadn’t you better take my arm?” Arthur said. He spoke in the soft conventional tone which the constant mixing with what is called “good society” renders habitual, but to Honor, at that moment of (to her) real distress, it seemed the confidential whisper of a friend, and the gentle intervention of a champion. “Make way!--Will you be so good?--A little on one side, there’s a good man,” urged Arthur, pressing forward with John Beacham’s bride upon his arm, and addressing certain individuals amongst the complimenting crowd, who allowed their curiosity to get the better of their good breeding, with an impertinent amenity that was not without its effect. “Stand back, please.--That’s all right.--This is your brougham, is it not?” to Honor, who, pale, bewildered, and overcome, was looking round helplessly for her husband.