How sweet it had been to be near him and to listen to
his whispered voice! How great was the difference between him and
that other young man, the smartness of whose apparel was now
becoming peculiarly distasteful to her! Certainly it would have
been better for her not to have gone to Cheltenham if it was to be
her fate to become Mrs. Twentyman. She was quite sure of that now.
She came up from the Dillsborough Station alone in the Bush
omnibus. She had not expected any one to meet her. Why should any
one meet her? The porter put up her box and the omnibus left her at
the door. But she remembered well how she had gone down with
Reginald Morton, and how delightful had been every little incident
of the journey. Even to walk with him up and down the platform
while waiting for the train had been a privilege. She thought of it
as she got out of the carriage and remembered that she had felt
that the train had come too soon.
At her own door her father met her and took her into the parlour
where the tea-things were spread, and where her sisters were
already seated. Her stepmother soon came in and kissed her kindly.
She was asked how she had enjoyed herself, and no disagreeable
questions were put to her that night. No questions, at least, were
asked which she felt herself bound to answer. After she was in bed
Kate came to her and did say a word.
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