Having left him for a moment, Falconer rejoined him, saying: “I have your ticket;” and put him into a first-class carriage.
Hugh remonstrated. Falconer replied:
“I find this hulk of mine worth taking care of. You will be twice the good to your mother, if you reach her tolerably fresh.”
He stood by the carriage door talking to him, till the train started; walked alongside till it was fairly in motion; then, bidding him good-bye, left in his hand a little packet, which Hugh, opening it by the light of the lamp, found to consist of a few sovereigns and a few shillings folded up in a twenty-pound-note.
I ought to tell one other little fact, however. Just before the engine whistled, Falconer said to Hugh:
“Give me that fourpenny piece, you brave old fellow!”
“There it is,” said Hugh. “What do you want it for?”
“I am going to make a wedding-present of it to your wife, whoever she may happen to be. I hope she will be worthy of it.”
Hugh instantly thought within himself:
“What a wife Margaret would make to Falconer!”