The maid retired. Sara waited on--waited and waited, until she felt sure that it must be half-past seven; but then she was counting time by her own impatience, not by the clock. Her eyes began to grow weary with the intense and incessant gaze at the station, and she could see a good many people standing at its entrance in the moonlight--stragglers, no doubt, waiting for the train, wondering, like herself, that it was not in, and what had become of it.
As she thus stood, there was a loud ring at the dour-bell. Sara flew into the hall in glee, thinking how stupid she must have been not to observe them crossing the bridge round by the lines; flew into the hall, and was met by her aunt.
Miss Davenal! when she had expected the bridegroom and bride! but Sara had to make the best of it, and she did so in her pleasing, graceful manner, drawing her aunt in by the hand to the dark room.
"They have not come yet, Aunt Bettina."
"Whatever's the meaning of this?" was the surprised question of Miss Davenal. "All in the dark? and where are they?"
"They have not come yet," repeated Sara. "Bring the lights," she added in a low voice to the servant.
"Not come! Where are they stopping?"
"The train is not in, Aunt Bettina."
"The what's not in?"
"The train."