With a cry of delight she ran to open the door for him in person.
“Oh, Mr. Merritt! I thank heaven you have come! Was it an inspiration? What brought you?” she exclaimed, seizing both his hands and dragging him into the drawing-room just as Pompous was strutting majestically up the hall to answer his knock.
She drew a big armchair and pushed him into it.
“There! Sit down! You must have traveled all night. You must be tired. You shall have a cup of coffee immediately. Pompous!” she cried.
“Stop, my dear,” said Mr. Merritt as soon as he could get a chance to speak. “I breakfasted at the Goeberlin House while waiting to get a carriage to bring me here. Had to wait two hours to find one disengaged. There was a wedding on hand, or something. However, I utilized the time by getting a bath and a breakfast, so now, my dear, I am quite comfortable, and entirely at your service. You got my letter?”
“Yes, dear friend, and I should have telegraphed for you last night but for ‘sober second thought.’”
“If you had your telegram would have missed me. I was on my way here before you could have got my letter.”
“Oh! what inspired you to come?”
“Intense solicitude on your account. After I had mailed my letter I heard, by the merest accident, that Hanson had started for this place. I determined to follow by the next train, and here I am. I found the fellow’s name on the hotel register at Goeberlin. Of course he has been here?”
“Yes; but got no admittance.”