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.