He suddenly felt nervous and bad tempered, and he wanted to be alone. It was a relief not to find his man waiting.
Some letters were lying on the table, and he took them up and glanced at them mechanically, then he threw them down and strolled to and fro in the room in the same preoccupied way as he had paced the platform.
When his servant came hurrying in, after a while, Haverford was staring into the fire with a rather grim look on his face.
"Have everything packed early to-morrow, Harper," he said; "I shall go to town by the first available train in the morning."
Then he roused himself and took up his letters again. The first he opened was written on shabby paper in handwriting that was small and curiously formed.
It was dated the day before, and had been forwarded from town.
"Dear Sir," it ran,
"If you please, will you come and see your mother as soon as you return from the country? There was a little accident yesterday when she was out driving, and she was much alarmed. I am glad to say she was not hurt, but her doctor has ordered her to keep very quiet for a day or two.
"Yours faithfully,
"Caroline Graniger.
"P.S. I have asked that this letter shall be forwarded to you."