--AND I START
I was wakened next morning by a knock at the door and a voice telling
me that it was eight o'clock. As I jumped out of bed the very first
thought that struck me was, "Shall I meet someone to-day?" It was what
I was thinking when I fell asleep.
I was dressed in an hour. All my portmanteaux were packed, they only
wanted strapping; and I said to myself, "The butler can do that." I was
not going to spoil my hands strapping them. Then I came down stairs to
the breakfast room where the butler was waiting, a grave looking man of
whom I had caught a glimpse last night.
When I had finished he said the carriage was in waiting, and I asked
him to have my things brought down; he said that was done already. And
behold, when I reached the hall door, a carriage stood there, closed,
with a basket arrangement on the top, and all my portmanteaux piled
upon it. My travelling bag was inside. The footman shut the door with a
snap, touched his hat again, jumped on the box, and we drove off.
I began to think whether I was a fool or not to leave Wilder. I had
such a hold upon him, and now I was going I didn't know where. His
country house, "The Gables," that sounded very fine, but for all
that, I felt nervous at going off like this, away up to the north of
England--to do what?
But it was too late to turn back now, for the carriage was entering St
Pancras station.