Derrick's mind was in a condition of joyous confusion as the train bore

him in a slow and leisurely fashion towards Thexford. Predominant, of

course, was the thought that he was on his way to see the girl of his

heart. But presently he began to think of the strange old man who had

set him that way. Naturally enough, Derrick felt curious about him; for

he had been much struck and interested by the old man's appearance and

manner. Derrick knew a gentleman when he saw him, and he knew that Mr.

Clendon was a gentleman and one of a very fine type; seen in befitting

surroundings, Mr. Clendon would have filled completely the part of a

nobleman; and yet he was poor and living in Brown's Buildings. Derrick

Advertisement..

felt strangely drawn towards the old man, but told himself that it was

because Mr. Clendon was a friend of Celia's--Derrick had already learned

to call her 'Celia' in his mind.

Then the fact that she was librarian to Lord Sutcombe recurred to him.

It was a strange coincidence, one of the strangest; and as he faced it,

Derrick's intention to go straight to the Hall and ask for Celia became

changed. He did not want to meet the Sutcombes: it was just possible

that Heyton and Miriam would be there; and most certainly he did not

want to meet them. He uttered a groan of impatience: he would not be

able to go to the Hall; he would have to find some means of meeting her

elsewhere; every moment of delay, every moment that stood between him

and the sight of her, assumed the length of years. With his brows knit,

and his heart in a state of rebellion, he got out at the little station

and looked round him wistfully, irresolutely.

There was a fly at the station steps, but he was in too much of a fever

to ride in a crawling vehicle, and he inquired of a sleepy porter the

direction of the nearest inn.

"There's no inn here, sir," said the man. "You see, this is really only

the station for the Hall; but you'll find a small kind of place in the

village farther on; it's called Fleckfield; it's rather more than a

couple of miles."

Derrick gave his small portmanteau to the flyman and told him to drive

there, and he himself set out walking.

Climbing a hill at a little distance from the station, he caught sight

of the tower of a big house and knew that it must be Thexford Hall. And,

within those walls, was the girl he loved! He set his teeth and strode

on, resentful of every yard that took him from her instead of to her.




Most Popular