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was equipped （as becomingly as usual） in her neat traveling
costume。 The thick veil； which she was accustomed to wear in
London； appeared on her country straw bonnet for the first time。〃
One meets such rude men occasionally in the railway；〃 she said to
the landlady。 〃And though I dress quietly； my hair is so very
remarkable。〃 She was a little paler than usual； but she had never
been so sweet…tempered and engaging； so gracefully cordial and
friendly； as now； when the moment of departure had come。 The
simple people of the house were quite moved at taking leave of
her。 She insisted on shaking hands with the landlordon speaking
to him in her prettiest way； and sunning him in her brightest
smiles。 〃Come！〃 she said to the landlady； 〃you have been so kind；
you have been so like a mother to me； you must give me a kiss at
parting。〃 She embraced the children all together in a lump； with
a mixture of humor and tenderness delightful to see； and left a
shilling among them to buy a cake。 〃If I was only rich enough to
make it a sovereign；〃 she whispered to the mother； 〃how glad I
should be！〃 The awkward lad who ran on errands stood waiting at
the fly door。 He was clumsy； he was frowsy； he had a gaping mouth
and a turn…up nose； but the ineradicable female delight in being
charming accepted him； for all that； in the character of a last
chance。 〃You dear； dingy John！〃 she said； kindly； at the carriage
door。 〃I am so poor I have only sixpence to give youwith my
very best wishes。 Take my advice； Johngrow to be a fine man；
and find yourself a nice sweetheart！ Thank you a thousand times！〃
She gave him a friendly little pat on the cheek with two of her
gloved fingers； and smiled； and nodded； and got into the fly。
〃Armadale next！〃 she said to herself as the carriage drove off。
Allan's anxiety not to miss the train had brought him to the
station in better time than usual。 After taking his ticket and
putting his portmanteau under the porter's charge； he was pacing
the platform and thinking of Neelie； when he heard the rustling
of a lady's dress behind him； and； turning round to look； found
himself face to face with Miss Gwilt。
There was no escaping her this time。 The station wall was on his
right hand； and the line was on his left； a tunnel was behind
him； and Miss Gwilt was in front； inquiring in her sweetest tones
whether Mr。 Armadale was going to London。
Allan colored scarlet with vexation and surprise。 There he was
obviously waiting for the train； and there was his portmanteau
close by； with his name on it； already labeled for London！ What
answer but the true one could he make after that？ Could he let
the train go without him； and lose the precious hours so vitally
important to Neelie and himself？ Impossible！ Allan helplessly
confirmed the printed statement on his portmanteau； and heartily
wished himself at the other end of the world as he said the
words。
〃How very fortunate！〃 rejoined Miss Gwilt。 〃I am going to London
too。 Might I ask you Mr。 Armadale （as you seem to be quite
alone）； to be my escort on the journey？〃
Allan looked at the little assembly of travelers； and travelers'
friends； collected on the platform； near the booking…office door。
They were all Thorpe Ambrose people。 He was probably known by
sight； and Miss Gwilt was probably known by sight； to every one
of them。 In sheer desperation； hesitating more awkwardly than
ever； he produced his cigar case。 〃I should be delighted；〃 he
said； with an embarrassment which was almost an insult under the
circumstances。 〃But II'm what the people who get sick over a
cigar call a slave to smoking。〃
〃I delight in smoking！〃 said Miss Gwilt； with undiminished
vivacity and good humor。 〃It's one of the privileges of the men
which I have always envied。 I'm afraid； Mr。 Armadale； you must
think I am forcing myself on you。 It certainly looks like it。 The
real truth is； I want particularly to say a word to you in
private about Mr。 Midwinter。〃
The train came up at the same moment。 Setting Midwinter out of
the question； the common decencies of politeness left Allan no
alternative but to submit。 After having been the cause of her
leaving her situation at Major Milroy's； after having pointedly
avoided her only a few days since on the high…road； to have
declined going to London in the same carriage with Miss Gwilt
would have been an act of downright brutality which it was simply
impossible to commit。 〃Damn her！〃 said Allan； internally； as he
handed his traveling companion into an empty carriage；
officiously placed at his disposal； before all the people at the
station； by the guard。 〃You shan't be disturbed； sir；〃 the man
whispered； confidentially； with a smile and a touch of his hat。
Allan could have knocked him down with the utmost pleasure。
〃Stop！〃 he said； from the window。 〃I don't want the carriage〃
It was useless； the guard was out of hearing； the whistle blew；
and the train started for London。
The select assembly of travelers' friends； left behind on the
platform； congregated in a circle on the spot； with the
station…master in the center。
The station…masterotherwise Mr。 Mackwas a popular character
in the neighborhood。 He possessed two social qualifications which
invariably impress the average English mindhe was an old
soldier； and he was a man of few words。 The conclave on the
platform insisted on taking his opinion； before it committed
itself positively to an opinion of its own。 A brisk fire of
remarks exploded； as a matter of course； on all sides； but
everybody's view of the subject ended interrogatively； in a
question aimed pointblank at the station…master's ears。
〃She's got him； hasn't she？〃 〃She'll come back 'Mrs。 Armadale；'
won't she？〃 〃He'd better have stuck to Miss Milroy； hadn't he？〃
〃Miss Milroy stuck to _him。_ She paid him a visit at the great
house； didn't she？〃 〃Nothing of the sort； it's a shame to take
the girl's character away。 She was caught in a thunder…storm
close by； he was obliged to give her shelter； and she's never
been near the place since。 Miss Gwilt's been there； if you like；
with no thunderstorm to force _her_ in； and Miss Gwilt's off with
him to London in a carriage all to themselves； eh； Mr。 Mack？〃
〃Ah； he's a soft one； that Armadale！ with all his money； to take
up with a red…haired woman； a good eight or nine years older than
he is！ She's thirty if she's a day。 That's what I say； Mr。 Mack。
What do you say？〃 〃Older or younger； she'll rule the roast at
Thorpe Ambrose； and I say； for the sake of the place； and for the
sake of trade； let's make the best of it； and Mr。 Mack； as a man
of the world； sees it in the same light as I do； don't you； sir？〃
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the station…master； with his abrupt military
accent； and his impenetrable military manner； 〃she's a devilish
fine woman。 And when I was Mr。 Armadale's age； it's my opinion；
if her fancy had laid that way； she might have married Me。〃
With that expression of opinion the station…master wheeled to the
right； and intrenched himself impregnably in the stronghold of
his own office。
The citizens of Thorpe Ambrose looked at the closed door； and
gravely shook their heads。 Mr。 Mack had disappoin