It was early spring. He obtained a day's leave of absence from school, and met her at Fenchurch Street. He saw no more of London than was to be seen as a background to her profile as they drove to Euston. She was different from the image he had formed of her during her absence, smaller, even prettier, more vivacious and effective. They kissed when they met, rather to his astonishment, for he had not the least desire to kiss her but only to consider her. She began to talk at once: "It has done wonders for you. You look so much more confident and bigger. Your success I mean. And you really are distinguished-looking. How do you like your work?" "I do it without---- No, I haven't thought about it." "I wanted them to take you into the business--Brock and M'Elroy, you know. But old Mr. M'Elroy wouldn't hear of it. They wanted me to marry Jack M'Elroy. Perhaps I should have done it if I hadn't met you." That did not please him at all, though it was obviously intended to do so. She went on: "But we'll show them that we can do better on our own lines, won't we? Father used to say that commerce was sordid however honest you tried to be, and after all, it isn't work for a first-rate man, is it?" Her insistence on his success and abilities worried him. It was not for this he had been waiting. He wanted her to tell him what had brought her to her abrupt decision to be married sooner than they had planned. He tried to lead her on to that but could bring her to no other intimacy than that of little caresses with her hands. He would not admit his disappointment, and all through the four hours' journey kept on telling himself that he was glad to see her. And indeed he was glad. Her coming brought the promised future nearer. She gave him no time to ponder his disappointment or the hole it knocked in his brooding pleasure. They chose a house, fifty pounds a year, with a garden, in Galt's Park. He took his mother to see it, and she assumed the manner she had had in the old days for the visits of the "rich Fourmys." A fortnight's shopping furnished the house, and he had the satisfaction of supplying the furniture for his study out of a check sent by his Aunt Janet. The trousseau took another three weeks, and Mrs. Brock, with an eye to wedding presents, would not hear of the day being fixed until after an interval of six weeks. A miserable time. Linda seemed to think of everything but her bridegroom.