"Yes. We spent the evening at the parsonage with Mr. Daw, and then went
to see him off by the ten-o'clock train. It is a shame, as Mr. Freeman
says, that the train is not made to keep better time. It was Mr. Daw's
last night here."
"And therefore you and Rupert must spend it with him! It is a sudden
friendship."
"I don't know that there's much friendship in the matter," replied
George. "Rupert, I believe, was at the parsonage by appointment, but I
called in accidentally. I did not know that Mr. Daw was leaving."
"Is he returning to France?"
"Yes. He crosses the Channel to-night. We shall never see him again, I
expect; he said he should never more quit his home, so far as he
believed."
"Is he a madman?"
"A madman! Certainly not."
"He talked enough folly and treason for one."
"Run away with by his zeal, I suppose," remarked George. "No one paid
any attention to him. Mr. Chattaway, do you think we Barbrook people
could not raise a commotion about the irregularity of that ten-o'clock
train, and so get it rectified?"
"Its irregularity does not concern me," returned Mr. Chattaway.
"It would if you had to travel by it; or to see friends off by it as
Rupert and I had last night. Nearly forty-five minutes were we cooling
our heels on the platform. It must have been eleven o'clock when Rupert
reached the Hold. I suppose he was let in."
"It appears he did get in," replied Mr. Chattaway, in by no means a
genial tone. "I don't know by whom yet; but I will know before
to-night."
"If any one locked me out of my home, I should break the first window
handy," cried bold Treve, who had been brought up by his mother in
defiance of Mr. Chattaway, and would a great deal rather treat him with
contempt than civility. "Rupert's a muff not to do it."
George urged on his horse. Words between Treve and Mr. Chattaway would
not be agreeable, and the latter gentleman's face was turning fiery. "I
am sure we shall be late," he cried. "Let us see what mettle our steeds
are made of."
It diverted the anticipated dispute. Treve, who was impulsive at times,
dashed on with a spring, and Mr. Chattaway and George followed. Before
they reached Whitterbey, they fell in with other horsemen, farmers and
gentlemen, bound on the same errand, and got separated.
Beyond a casual view of them now and then in the crowded fair, Mr.
Chattaway did not again see George and Treve until they all met at what
was called the ordinary--the one-o'clock dinner. Of these ordinaries
there were several held in the town on the great fair day, but Mr.
Chattaway and George Ryle had been in the habit of attending the same.
Immediately after the meal was over, Mr. Chattaway ordered his horse,
and set off home.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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