in his hand, and having nothing carried for him. He is not going back into the country, therefore, just yet. She follows him a little way, hesitates, instantaneously turns confidently, and goes straight into the house he has quitted.
“Is the gentleman from Cloisterham indoors?”
“Just gone out.”
“Unlucky. When does the gentleman return to Cloisterham?”
“At six this evening.”
“Bless ye and thank ye. May the Lord prosper a business where a civil question, even from a poor soul, is so civilly answered!”
“I’ll not miss ye twice!” repeats the poor soul in the street, and not so civilly. “I lost ye last, where that omnibus you got into nigh your journey’s end plied betwixt the station and the place. I wasn’t so much as certain that you even went right on to the place. Now, I know ye did. My gentleman from Cloisterham, I’ll be there before ye and bide your coming. I’ve swore my oath that I’ll not miss ye twice!”