"How did you know, Christie?" she asked in great amazement.
"When I heard Mr. Sandford was ill and not likely to mend, I wanted to go and see him. I made ready; I have something to say to him, for your sake, my dear!"
Mrs. Dorriman sat down to rest.
"For my sake!" she repeated. "Oh! Christie, I want nothing from him."
"But I do for you, and for myself I would die in the old place; for you, I'd best keep quiet a bit longer."
She said no more of her hopes and wishes, but her parting words were:
"When you're ready I'm ready; not but what railways are fearful things to be sent about the world, with nothing but a screech and a puff of smoke."
Mr. Stevens in the meantime entered into various details with Mrs. Dorriman, even helping her to settle what things she would take with her or leave behind.
"There is one thing you must take, as Sandford expressly wishes you to do so." He spoke looking at her a little curiously.
A flash of recollection came to her.