“And why did you leave him? Why could you not have sent one of the servants?”
“Because I know everything that could be done for him would be done, and I wished you to return to Marshlands immediately. I wanted to telegraph, but Georgina would not hear of it; so I started to find you as soon as possible.”
“You have travelled all night then?”
“Yes; I arrived here at nine o’clock this morning.”
“You must be very tired,” and he came up to where she stood and looked in her face.
“If travelling for a year could do you or yours any good, Basil, I should not mind being tired!” she exclaimed, and her eyes filled with tears, to remember nothing she could do might be of any use now, to him or his.
He remained silent for an instant; but then, putting out his hand, he touched hers, and said, piteously—
“What a fool I was, Phemie!—oh, what a fool!”
“Do not be one now then, Basil,” she answered, and she drew her hand away from his and stepped back a pace or two.
“When does the train start?” she asked, and the question brought Basil to his senses.