It was a little time before the father spoke again. But without being able to see his face, even without being able to hear him breathe, Philip felt that he was struggling with something in himself. Perhaps it was only a struggle to regain that composure of manner which he had temporarily lost. In this he succeeded. But was that all Mr Hadleigh was struggling with in those few moments of silence? At anyrate, when he spoke, his voice was steadier than before; more like its ordinary tone, but without its hardness.
‘Before I proceed, may I ask what was the purport of the two letters you received?’
‘The one was simply urging me on no account to fail to start in the Hertford Castle as arranged, and assuring me of such welcome as I might desire.’
‘That was not much to write about. And the other?’
‘The other inclosed a note which I am to deliver personally to a firm of solicitors in the City, and requesting that I should bring with me the packet they would intrust to my care.’
‘Is that all?’
‘That is all, sir.’
‘One question more. Are you very anxious to make this journey, which may end in nothing? Is there no one here who could persuade you to give it up altogether?’
Philip was a good deal perplexed as to how he should answer this question. There was Some one who could have persuaded him to stay at home; but the sweet voice of that Some one was again whispering in his ear, ‘It was your mother’s wish that you should go;’ and besides, there was the natural desire of youth to see strange countries and peoples.
‘I thought, sir, that this question of my going out to Uncle Shield had been all settled long ago,’ he replied awkwardly, for he knew that any reference to the command laid upon him by his mother always disturbed his father.