nearly three weeks later came the following letter from adeline. in the meanwhile she had had a rather serious relapse, and he had seen her only once or twice for a few minutes.
my dear mr. larch,—this time i am quite sure i am well again. nurse is obliged to leave to-day, as she is wanted at a hospital, and she has persuaded me to go to littlehampton at once, and given me the address of some rooms. i shall leave victoria to-morrow (wednesday) by the 1.10 train; lottie will go with me, and the house will be locked up. good-bye for the present, if i don't see you. we shall not stay more than a week or ten days. i will write to you from littlehampton.
ever yours most gratefully,
a. a.
p. s. i was expecting you down to-night.
"'if i don't see you'!" he repeated to himself, smiling, and examining adeline's caligraphy, which he had not seen before. it was a bold but not distinguished hand. he read the note several times, then folded it carefully and put it in his pocket-book.
by reason of an unexpected delay at the office he almost missed her at victoria. the train was due out at least a minute before he rushed into the station; fortunately trains are not invariably prompt. adeline was leaning from a carriage window to hand a penny to a newspaper boy; the boy dropped the penny, and she laughed. she wore a black hat with a veil. her cheeks were a little fuller, and her eyes less unnaturally brilliant, at any rate under the veil; and richard thought that he had never seen her look so pretty.
"there it is, silly boy, there!" she was saying as he came up.
"i thought i'd just see if you were all right," he panted. "i should have been here earlier, only i was detained."
"how kind of you to take so much trouble!" she said, taking his hand, and fixing her eyes intently on his. the guard came along to fasten the doors.
"luggage all in?" richard asked.
"yes, thanks. lottie saw to it while i got the tickets. i find she is quite an experienced traveller." at which lottie, effaced in a corner, blushed.
"well, i hope you will enjoy yourself." the whistle sounded, and the train jerked forward adeline began to wave a good-bye.
"i see there's a sunday league trip to littlehampton on sunday," he said, walking along with the train.
"oh! do come down."
"you'd like me to?"
"very much."
"i will, then. send me the address."
she gave a succession of little nods, as the train carried her away.
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