“I wish I might; but I shall have so much to do.”
The young minister sighed profoundly. He did not mean to betray his sorrow and despair, but he could not help doing so.
“Don’t be surprised, my dear, if you find us both at the depot to see you off to-morrow morning,” said Dr. Shaw.
“Oh, do not break your rest so early. The train leaves at seven,” said Roma.
“Never mind. Only don’t be surprised,” repeated the old rector as he handed her into her carriage.
Again she shook hands with both friends and then drove home.
CHAPTER XXVIII
ROMA IN WASHINGTON
Roma Fronde arose very early the next morning, to be ready to secure her train. She spent but little time over her breakfast and her leave taking, and a little after five o’clock she entered her carriage, with Puck on the box, and her traveling trunk strapped behind, and started for Goeberlin station. After a delightful morning drive up and down the wooded hills that lay between the Hall and the village she reached the railway depot and went into the waiting-room, while Puck took her ticket, checked her baggage, and dispatched a telegram that she had written to Mr. Merritt to engage apartments for her at the Wesleyan and meet her at the Washington depot on the arrival of the latest train from the West.
In the waiting-room she found Dr. Shaw and Paul Stone.
“I told you we should be here to see you off,” said the elder man when both arose to shake hands with her.