“Oh, Edwin—thank you, my dear fellow,” cried Joseph, grasping his hand and shaking it. “She is not hurt, thank God—not even a scratch—only a little shaken. Fetch a glass of water, you’ll find one in the booking-office.”
Gurwood ran out to fetch it. As he was returning he met Captain Lee leading his daughter out of the waiting-room.
“I sincerely hope that your daughter is not hurt,” he said, in earnest tones. “Perhaps a little water might—”
“No, thank you,” said the captain somewhat stiffly.
“The carriage is waiting, sir,” said a servant in livery, coming up at the moment and touching his hat.
Emma looked at Edwin for a second, and, with a slight but perplexed smile of acknowledgment, passed on.
Next moment the carriage drove away, and she was gone. Edwin at the same time became aware of the fact that the pertinacious Blunt was at his side. Walking quickly into the waiting-room he presented the glass of water to Mrs Tipps, but to his surprise that eccentric lady rose hastily and said,—“Thank you, Mr Gurwood, many thanks, but I am better. Come, Joseph—let us hasten to our darling Netta. Have you sent for a fly?”
“There is one waiting, mother—take my arm. Many, many thanks for your kindness in coming with her, Gurwood,” said Tipps. “I can’t ask you to come with me just now, I—”
The rest of his speech was lost in consequence of the impatient old lady dragging her son away, but what had been heard of it was sufficient to fill Mr Blunt with surprise and perplexity.
“Well, Blunt,” said Mr Superintendent Sharp, coming up at that moment, “what has brought you here?”