CHAPTER XII. CONCLUSION.
When the twelve o’clock train stopped at the station next morning two passengers got out—a little old lady dressed with Quaker-like neatness, and a tall, grizzled, sunburnt man with a breezy, open-air look about him.
Tom and the Rector were both waiting on the platform, and hurried up to them. There was good news.
“Your granddaughter is better, Mrs. Smith,” the Rector said in his kind voice. “But she may not know you. You must not be alarmed at that. The doctor is much more hopeful this morning, and she calls continually for you. We trust it may soothe her to have you near her.”
The tears were streaming fast over Mrs. Smith’s wrinkled face. “Polly would never have no one but me to nurse her,” she said. “She was always like that from a baby. I came off the first minute I could. Mr. Smith wasn’t able to leave the shop, but Mr. Harding came with me. I’ve never travelled alone in my life, and I’d have lost my way sure enough without him. Mr. Harding’s from Australia, sir,” she added, looking at Tom, whom she had identified as Mr. Merivale. “And he’d be glad to see Miss Sampson if she’s still with Miss Merivale supposing ‘twas convenient.”
“I am going back to Woodcote now,” Tom said, looking at Mr. Harding. He had started violently at the first mention of his name by Mrs. Smith, but he spoke coolly enough. “Will you walk back with me? My aunt will be very glad to see you. Miss Sampson is now at the Rectory, but I am going to fetch her and my sister after lunch.”
The Rector’s trap was waiting outside, and Mrs. Smith was soon comfortably settled in it. She was too simple and homely to be shy, and it was plain both to the Rector and Tom that her distress at Pauline’s accident was largely mingled with delight at the prospect of having her to nurse. She spoke with eagerness to the Rector as they drove off of the time when she could take Polly back with her to Leyton.
“She’s a good sort,” Mr. Harding said, as he and Tom turned to walk up the hill. “I hope her Polly will soon be better. She is a governess, isn’t she? Price told me she didn’t spend much time with the old folks.”