“She’s right enough.”
“You’d marry her—getting a divorce—?”
“I shall marry her.”
There was a little antagonism between the two men.
“Where’s Aunt Maud?” asked the younger.
“She’s at the Railway Arms—we passed it, just against Rollin’s Mill Crossing.... They sent me a note this morning to go an’ see her when I can spare time. She’s got consumption.”
“Good Lord! Are you going?”
“Yes—”
But again Berry felt that his uncle was afraid.
The young man got through his commission in the village, had a drink with his uncle at the inn, and the two were returning home. The elder man’s subject of conversation was Australia. As they drew near the town they grew silent, thinking both of the public-house. At last they saw the gates of the railway crossing were closed before them.