Chapter 17 - Page 2

what she did not intend to do,
however habitually she did it. She had a theory that she was not
herself, but what she would have liked to be. As to the one
quality in which she had always felt superior to Agatha, and
which she called " good breeding," Trefusis had so far destroyed
her conceit in that, that she was beginning to doubt whether it
was not her cardinal defect.

She could not bring herself to utter a word as she embraced her
schoolfellow; and Agatha was tongue-tied too. But there was much
remorseful tenderness in the feelings that choked them. Their
silence would have been awkward but for the loquacity of Jane,
who talked enough for all three. Sir Charles was without, in the
trap, waiting to drive Gertrude to the station. Erskine
intercepted her in the hall as she passed out, told her that he
should be desolate when she was gone, and begged her to remember
him, a simple petition which moved her a little, and caused her
to note that his dark eyes had a pleading eloquence which she had
observed before in the kangaroos at the Zoological Society's
gardens.

On the way to the train Sir Charles worried the horse in order to
be excused from conversation on the sore subject of his guest's
sudden departure. He had made a few remarks on the skittishness
of young ponies, and on the weather, and that was all until they
reached the station, a pretty building standing in the open
country, with a view of the river from the platform. There were
two flies waiting, two porters, a bookstall, and a refreshment
room with a neglected beauty pining behind the bar. Sir Charles
waited in the booking office to purchase a ticket for Gertrude,
who went through to the platform. The first person she saw there
was Trefusis, close beside her.

"I am going to town by this train, Gertrude," he said quickly.
"Let me take charge of you. I have something to say, for I hear
that some mischief has been made between us which must be stopped
at once. You--"

Just then Sir Charles came out, and stood amazed to see them in
conversation.

"It happens that I am going by this train," said Trefusis. "I
will see after Miss Lindsay."

"Miss Lindsay has her maid with her," said Sir Charles, almost
stammering, and looking at Gertrude, whose expression was
inscrutable.

"We can get into the Pullman car," said Trefusis. "There we shall
be as private as in a corner of a crowded drawing-room. I may
travel with you, may I not?" he said, seeing Sir Charles's
disturbed look, and turning to her for express permission.

She felt that to deny him would be to throw away her last chance
of happiness. Nevertheless she resolved to do it, though she
should die of grief on the way to London.