Part 30 (2/2)
”What is the expense of cutting your reflections short, Mr.
Bishopriggs?”
”Thirdly, and lastly, if ye canna agree wi' her as time gaes on--if there's incompaitibeelity of temper betwixt ye--in short, if ye want a wee bit separation, hech, Sirs! ye pet yer hand in yer poaket, and come to an aimicable understandin' wi' her in that way. Or, maybe she takes ye into Court, and pets _her_ hand in your poaket, and comes to a hoastile understandin' wi' ye there. Show me a woman--and I'll show ye a man not far off wha' has mair expenses on his back than he ever bairgained for.” Arnold's patience would last no longer--he turned to the door. Mr. Bishopriggs, with equal alacrity on his side, turned to the matter in hand. ”Yes, Sir! The room is e'en clear o' Sir Paitrick, and the leddy's alane, and waitin' for ye.”
In a moment more Arnold was back in the sitting-room.
”Well?” he asked, anxiously. ”What is it? Bad news from Lady Lundie's?”
Anne closed and directed the letter to Blanche, which she had just completed. ”No,” she replied. ”Nothing to interest _you_.”
”What did Sir Patrick want?”
”Only to warn me. They have found out at Windygates that I am here.”
”That's awkward, isn't it?”
”Not in the least. I can manage perfectly; I have nothing to fear. Don't think of _me_--think of yourself.”
”I am not suspected, am I?”
”Thank heaven--no. But there is no knowing what may happen if you stay here. Ring the bell at once, and ask the waiter about the trains.”
Struck by the unusual obscurity of the sky at that hour of the evening, Arnold went to the window. The rain had come--and was falling heavily.
The view on the moor was fast disappearing in mist and darkness.
”Pleasant weather to travel in!” he said.
”The railway!” Anne exclaimed, impatiently. ”It's getting late. See about the railway!”
Arnold walked to the fire-place to ring the bell. The railway time-table hanging over it met his eye.
”Here's the information I want,” he said to Anne; ”if I only knew how to get at it. 'Down'--'Up'--'A. M.'--P. M.' What a cursed confusion! I believe they do it on purpose.”
Anne joined him at the fire-place.
”I understand it--I'll help you. Did you say it was the up train you wanted?”
”What is the name of the station you stop at?”
Arnold told her. She followed the intricate net-work of lines and figures with her finger--suddenly stopped--looked again to make sure--and turned from the time-table with a face of blank despair. The last train for the day had gone an hour since.
In the silence which followed that discovery, a first flash of lightning pa.s.sed across the window and the low roll of thunder sounded the outbreak of the storm.
”What's to be done now?” asked Arnold.
In the face of the storm, Anne answered without hesitation, ”You must take a carriage, and drive.”
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