“She said so, Constance. I have no doubt Roland said so to her. I should like to see the sort of cargo he will lay in for the start.”
“What does Mr. Galloway say to it, I wonder?” exclaimed Arthur, that gentleman’s perplexities presenting themselves to his mind above everything else. “I cannot think what he will do.”
“I have an idea that Mr. Galloway is as yet unaware of it,” said Hamish. “Roland assured me that no person whatever knew of his departure, except Jenkins. He called upon him on his way to the station.”
“Unaware of it!” Arthur fell into consternation great as Mr. Galloway’s, as he repeated the words. Was it possible that Roland had stolen a march on Mr. Galloway? He relapsed into silence and thought.
“What makes you so sad?” Constance asked of Arthur later, when they were dispersing to their several occupations.
“I am not sad, Constance; only thoughtful. I have been carrying on an inward battle,” he added, half laughingly.
“With your conscience?”
“With my spirit. It is a proud one yet, in spite of all I have had to tame it; a great deal more rebellious than I like it to be.”
“Why, what is the matter, Arthur?”
“Constance, I think I ought to come forward and help Mr. Galloway out of this strait. I think my duty lies in doing it.”