"No, we ain't; get in, get in," he shouted. And with the guard crying to him to desist, he hopped in after her, saying, "You very nearly made me miss the train. What 'ud you've done if the train had taken you away and left me behind?"
The remark was not altogether a happy one.
"Then you travel second-class?" Esther said.
"Yes, I always travel second-class now; Peggy never would, but second seems to me quite good enough. I don't care about third, unless one is with a lot of pals, and can keep the carriage to ourselves. That's the way we manage it when we go down to Newmarket or Doncaster."
They were alone in the compartment. William leaned forward and took her hand.
"Try to forgive me, Esther."
She drew her hand away; he got up, and sat down beside her, and put his arm around her waist.
"No, no. I'll have none of that. All that sort of thing is over between us."
He looked at her inquisitively, not knowing how to act.
"I know you've had a hard time, Esther. Tell me about it. What did you do when you left Woodview?" He unfortunately added, "Did you ever meet any one since that you cared for?"