"Glynde is new ground to me," I observed. "A pretty place, is it not?"
"There are a few pretty spots in the neighbourhood," he answered; and he mentioned one or two by name, describing briefly.
It is singular that I should have been drawn on to chat with him. As a rule, I am very shy of railway acquaintances. A woman, and especially a young woman, travelling alone, can scarcely act with too much reticence. Somehow I was disposed during those few minutes to make an exception in favour of this particular fellow-traveller, recognising instinctively a man whom one might trust. Not that such instincts may be safely depended on.
Some remark made by him led to the question on my part—
"Can you tell me anything about the Church?"
He asked, "Which Church?"
"The nearest to Glynde House," I answered; and a slight flash or lighting up of his face showed me that he was acquainted with the Romillys.
"The Parish Church is a mile and a half distant," he said. "There is a small Church or Chapel-of-ease not far from Glynde House."
"What kind of Church Services?" I asked next, speaking perhaps with a touch of wistfulness. I did not know it, till I saw the reflection in his face. But indeed the burden of the future and of my own incapacity was weighing on me heavily.
He answered again by a question, "What kind would you wish?"