“Isn't this too bad?” cried he, passionately.
“Of course it is too bad; but it's only a passing cloud; and by the time I shall write to you it will have passed away.”
Jack clasped her affectionately in his arms, kissed her twice, and sprang into the carriage, and drove away with a full heart indeed; but also with the fast assurance that his dear sister would watch over his interests and not forget him.
That dark drive went over like a hideous dream. He heard the wind and the rain, the tramp of the horses' feet and the splash of the wheels along the miry road, but he never fully realized where he was or how he came there. The first bell was ringing as he drove into the station, and there was but little time to get down his luggage and secure his ticket. He asked for a coupé, that he might be alone; and being known as one of the great family at Castello, the obsequious station-master hastened to install him at once. On opening the door, however, it was discovered that another traveller had already deposited a great-coat and a rug in one corner.
“Give yourself no trouble, Captain Bramleigh,” said the official, in a low voice. “I 'll just say the coupé is reserved, and we 'll put him into another compartment. Take these traps, Bob,” cried he to a porter, “and put them into a first-class.”
Scarcely was the order given when two figures, moving out of the dark, approached, and one, with a slightly foreign accent, but in admirable English, said, “What are you doing there? I have taken that place.”
“Yes,” cried his friend, “this gentleman secured the coupé on the moment of his arrival.”
“Very sorry, sir—extremely sorry; but the coupé was reserved—specially reserved.”
“My friend has paid for that place;” said the last, speaker; “and I can only say, if I were he, I'd not relinquish it.”
“Don't bother yourself about it,” whispered Jack. “Let him have his place. I 'll take the other corner; and there's an end of it.”