“I met Mrs. Squire at Victoria, and took charge of her as she was all alone. I got her heaps of magazines and papers, and books, and—she did nothing but—talk all the way down. I never knew before how near Brighton is to London.”
Marian laughed merrily, returning the close pressure of Maddison’s eager hand. How deliciously pretty she looked, he thought; how wildly aggravating that West should be there.
“Now I’m off; I’ve no luggage to worry about,” said West. “Good-by, Mrs. Squire, and thank you for a very pleasant journey. Good-by, Maddison, see you soon.”
West strode off through the bustling crowd. Then everything vanished for Maddison save Marian.
“My dear, my dear,” he said, taking her hand in his again. “My dear——”
The tears started into his eyes as he strove in vain to speak.
“My dear old boy! It’s jolly to be together again, isn’t it? Come along. Take me out of this. We can’t talk here.”
Soon they were driving along through the brisk air, he seated opposite her so that he might see her the better.
“It was luck meeting Mr. West, wasn’t it? He’d been up for the night, and it was much nicer than traveling alone.”
“Bother West,” said Maddison. “He’s nothing. What about yourself? Tell me all about yourself.”
“All? All? Where shall I begin. From the moment you went off?”
“Till this minute! A few days ago! It seems years to me. It was all I could do to keep from rushing up to town to see you.”
“You know I missed you dreadfully,” she said, leaning forward and resting her hand on his knee. “It was just as bad for me as for you. But now we’re together, don’t let’s worry about what has been; I’ve come down to be happy, dear, to be happy.”
“Look here. We shall be out of the town soon. If you’re not tired, let’s get out and walk along the cliff. The fly can take the traps along. Shall we?”
“It’d be jolly. I’ve been sitting all the morning. What a lovely day! it was foggy and horrid in town.”
So intense was Maddison’s happiness that he was content to be silent, as he walked along by her side, as was she, for she went in fear of letting him see that her pleasure at the meeting was not so great as his. Moreover, the journey with West had given her food for thought, and the knowledge that he was staying at Brighton had altered altogether the plans she had made. A day or two alone with Maddison was all that she felt she could endure, but with West near by it might be foolish to return to town so soon.