"Engagement be hanged. You are inventing that. Explain what you mean."
"If I hadn't an engagement, I should invent one, to get away from you. I don't want to talk to you. And I shall have a continuous engagement for the rest of the day. Good day to you."
"Pooh-pooh to you," responded the doctor, derisively. But the miserable look had been taken from his face.
[CHAPTER XXI]
RACHEL APPEARS ON THE SCENE
Burton used his room telephone at the hotel to call up Watson, and even so he did not give his name.
"It's all right so far. We'll go ahead as planned," he said.
Next he went to the station to meet Rachel. The west-bound train to which her car, "Oversee," was attached, came puffing in with the air of importance which every one and everything that ministered to Rachel came sooner or later to assume. He walked down to the end of the long platform, and there was the familiar car, and, what was not so to be taken for granted, there was Rachel herself on the steps, waving an impatient hand to him.
"How jolly of you to come and see me," he said impudently, as he took her hand. For some queer reason, he did not carry it to his lips, as had been his old custom. "I was greatly surprised to receive your telegram yesterday."
"Were you?" she murmured in a tone that might mean nothing or might mean everything. "Didn't you think it was time?"