Part 86 (1/2)
Edwin read, aloud: ”Am sending George down to-day. Please meet 6:30 train at Knype. Love. Hilda.”
”Well, I never!” exclaimed Mrs Orgreave. ”You don't mean to tell me she's letting that boy travel alone! What next?”
”Where's the telegram sent from?” asked Mr Orgreave.
Edwin examined the official indications: ”Victoria.”
”Then she's brought him up to London, and she's putting him in a train at Euston. That's it.”
”Only there is no London train that gets to Knype at half-past six,”
Edwin said. ”It's 7:12, or 7:14--I forget.”
”Oh! That's near enough for Hilda,” Janet smiled, looking at her watch.
”She doesn't mean any other train?” Mrs Orgreave fearfully suggested.
”She can't mean any other train. There is no other. Only probably she's been looking at the wrong time-table,” Janet rea.s.sured her mother.
”Because if the poor little thing found no one to meet him at Knype--”
”Don't worry, dear,” said Janet. ”The poor little thing would soon be engaging somebody's attention. Trust him!”
”But has she been writing to you lately?” Mrs Orgreave questioned.
”No.”
”Then why--”
”Don't ask me!” said Janet. ”No doubt I shall get a letter to-morrow, after George has come and told us everything! Poor dear, I'm glad she's doing so much better now.”
”Is she?” Edwin murmured, surprised.
”Oh yes!” said Janet. ”She's got a regular bustling partner, and they're that busy they scarcely know what to do. But they only keep one little servant.”
In the ordinary way Janet and Edwin never mentioned Hilda to one another. Each seemed to be held back by a kind of timid shame and by a cautious suspicion. Each seemed to be inquiring: ”What does he know?”
”What does she know?”
”If I thought it wasn't too cold, I'd go with you to Knype,” said Mr Orgreave.
”Now, Osmond!” Mrs Orgreave sat up.
”Shall I go?” said Edwin.
”Well,” said Janet, with much kindliness, ”I'm sure he'd be delighted to see you.”
Mrs Orgreave rang the bell.
”What do you want, mother?”
”There'll be the bed--”