"I can catch the mid-day express for London," he said. "I can do it easily."
Mr. Alwynn made no reply.
"Get in," continued Dare, feverishly; "the portmanteau is in."
"I think I will walk home," said Mr. Alwynn, slowly. It gave him excruciating pain to say anything so severe as this; but he got out the words nevertheless.
Dare looked at him in astonishment.
"Get in," he said again, quickly. "I must speak to you. I will drive you home. I have something to say."
Mr. Alwynn never refused to hear what any one had to say. He went slowly down the steps, and got into the cart, looking straight in front of him, as his custom was when disturbed in mind. Dare followed.
"I shall not want you, James," he said to the groom, his foot on the step.
At this moment the form of Mrs. Smith, the house-keeper, appeared through the hall door, clothed in all the awful majesty of an upper servant whose dignity has been outraged.
"Sir," she said, in a clear not to say a high voice, "asking your pardon, sir, but am I, or am I not, to take my orders from—"