Captain Basset had arranged to travel by a train leaving Midbury about noon next day, and Josephine had heard the order given for Barnes to get the pony-carriage in readiness to drive to the railway station at eleven o'clock. She decided before she fell asleep that she would ask permission to drive into Midbury with her father and see him off at the railway station herself. So in the morning, whilst the family was at breakfast, she made her request.
"May I see you off, father?" she asked eagerly. "You'd like me to, wouldn't you?"
"Oh, my dear, don't you think it would be better if you said good-bye to him here?" suggested Miss Basset quickly, before her nephew could reply. "Your uncle is going to drive him into Midbury, and I'm sure it would upset them both very much if you made a scene—I mean if you broke down and cried."
"As if I would!" Josephine exclaimed reproachfully, her cheeks flushing.
"Well, I know I should," Miss Basset admitted, shaking her head and sighing. "But what does Paul wish himself?" she asked, looking at her nephew.
"I should like Josephine to come to the railway station with me," he answered, smiling; "I took it for granted she would."
"May I, Uncle John?" Josephine asked eagerly, appealing to Mr. Basset.
"Why, of course, my dear, if you wish it," he answered. "Eleven o'clock punctually mind!" As though it was likely Josephine would forget!
After breakfast May and Donald went to the schoolroom as usual to await Miss Cummings' arrival. The governess had not heard of the visitor at the Glen, so great was her surprise when the Raes greeted her with the news that Captain Basset had been there for the week-end and was leaving that morning.
"Josephine's to have a half-holiday to go and see him off," May said, "but I suppose we must do lessons as usual. I don't feel very workish to-day though."