"You shall go to Hampton Court when I return."
"Take me with you to Marshdale."
"I cannot," he replied decisively. "I am going down on business."
"Why did you not tell me of it this morning? Why have proposed to——"
"I did not know of it then," he interrupted. "How dismayed you look, Blanche!" he added, half laughing.
"I shall be very lonely, Archibald—all by myself here!"
He said no more, but stooped to kiss her, and left the room, looking at his watch.
"I did not think it was quite so late!" he exclaimed. Turning sharply, for he had been about to enter the study, he approached the front door, hesitated, then turned again, and went into the study.
"No, I can't stop," he said, coming to a final decision, as he once more came forth, shut the study door after him, and locked it, but did not take out the key. "Blanche, don't let anyone come in here; I have left all my papers at sixes and sevens. If I wait to put them up I shall not catch Jenning."
"Are you going to the train now, Archibald?"