He pressed on somewhat better towards home, and Thomas Godolphin saw nothing else that could be done, except to press on with him, and give him all the help in his power. "My dear father, you should have waited until the morning," he said, "and have gone out then." "But I wanted to see about a train, Thomas," remonstrated the knight. "And I can't do it in the day. She will not let me. When we drive past the railway station, she won't get out, and won't let me do so. Thomas, I want to go back to Ashlydyat." "I have come to take you back, my dear father." "Ay, ay. And mind you are firm when she says I must not go because of the fever. The fever will not hurt me, Thomas. I can't be firm. I have grown feeble, and people take my will from me. You are my first-born son, Thomas." "Yes." "Then you must be firm for me, I say." "I will be, father." "This is a rough road, Thomas." "No, it is smooth; and I am glad that it is so. But you are tired." The old knight bent his head, as if choosing his steps. Presently he lifted his head: "Thomas, when do they leave Ashlydyat?" "Who, sir? The Verralls? They have not had notice yet." Sir George stopped. He drew up his head to its full height, and turned to his son. "Not had notice? When, then, do I go back? I won't go to Lady Godolphin's Folly. I must go to Ashlydyat." "Yes, sir," said Thomas soothingly. "I will see about it." The knight, satisfied, resumed his walk. "Of course you will see about it. You are my son and heir, Thomas. I depend upon you." They pursued their way for some little time in silence, and then Sir George spoke again, his tone hushed. "Thomas, I have put on mourning for her. I mourn her as much as you do. And you did not get there in time to see her alive!" "Not in time. No," replied Thomas, looking hard into the mist overhead. "I'd have come to the funeral, Thomas, if she had let me. But she was afraid of the fever. George got there in time for it?" "Barely." "When he came back to Broomhead, and heard of it, he was so cut up, poor fellow. Cut up for your sake, Thomas. He said he should be in time to follow her to the grave if he started at once, and he went off then and there. Thomas"--dropping his voice still lower--"whom shall you take to Ashlydyat now?" "My sisters." "Nay. But as your wife? You will be replacing Ethel sometime." "I shall never marry now, father." At length Broomhead was reached. Thomas held open the gate of the shrubbery to his father, and guided him through it. "Shall we have two engines, Thomas?" "Two engines, sir! What for?" "They'd take us quicker, you know. This is not the station!" broke forth Sir George in a sharp tone of complaint, as they emerged beyond the shrubbery, and the house stood facing them. "Oh, Thomas! you said you were taking me to Ashlydyat! I cannot die away from it!"