This letter was like a draft of wine to the Sailor. He read it many
times before that day was out, but he turned to it again and again long
after he knew every word by heart. It gave him a new zest for his
work. He had quite a good day with the pen. Under these high auspices
he took new courage to go on. Much was asked of him by this sacred
intimacy. By deeds alone could he show himself worthy.
In reply to this letter he wrote a very long one to Miss Pridmore, at
Greylands, near Woking. It was not so discreet and carefully
considered as the one he had intended to write; he let himself go far
more than he felt he ought to have done. And the reply he received the
day before the fortnight was up was similarly expansive and just as
entrancing as the former one. But the whole effect was marred by a
grievous disappointment. Instead of returning from Greylands on the
morrow, which was Saturday, she was going to stay another week.
How could he bear the burden of existence for such an intolerable
length of time without a sight of her? It was asking more of flesh and
blood than flesh and blood thought reasonable.
The next day, Saturday, was a time of gloom. He could not work at all,
and it was no use making a pretence of it. But in the evening, sadly
smoking a pipe after so meager a dinner that Mr. Paley was quite
disconcerted, there came an inspiration.
Why not pay a visit to Woking on the morrow? Why not make his way to
Greylands--wherever Greylands might be--and without revealing an
unsanctioned presence, gaze upon Athena in all her glory as she came
out of church, which he knew she attended every Sunday?
The idea at once took possession of him. And presently it flamed so
hot in his mind that he borrowed a Bradshaw from Mr. Paley and found,
as he had surmised, that there was no lack of trains to Woking on the
morrow. He decided that the one which arrived at 9.20 would be the
best for his purpose. That would give him plenty of time to locate
Greylands, and ample opportunity, no doubt, to reach it.
Sunday came, a fair June day, and the Sailor, having made an early, but
in the circumstances surprisingly efficient, breakfast, set forth to
Waterloo Station. Such an adventure could receive no sanction from men
or gods, but after all, reflected Henry Harper as he went his way, no
possible harm can come of it if I don't let her see me!
The train arrived at Woking only five minutes late, which was really
not bad for the Sabbath. Only one porter was to be seen on the
deserted platform, and he, with the gruffness of a martyr ill resigned,
had "never heard on it," that is to say, had never heard of Greylands.
This was a rebuff. The clerk in the booking office, suffering also
from a sense of injustice, was equally unhelpful. However, outside the
station was a solitary flyman in charge of a promiscuous vehicle, and
he, it seemed, had heard of Greylands, moreover, scenting a fare, knew
how to get there.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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