He was a day earlier than
his letter to his parents had stated, and his arrangement with
them had been that they should meet him at Plymouth; a plan which
pleased the worthy couple beyond expression. Once before the same
engagement had been made, which he had then quashed by ante-dating
his arrival. This time he would go right on to Castle Boterel;
ramble in that well-known neighbourhood during the evening and
next morning, making inquiries; and return to Plymouth to meet
them as arranged--a contrivance which would leave their cherished
project undisturbed, relieving his own impatience also.
At Chippenham there was a little waiting, and some loosening and
attaching of carriages.
Stephen looked out. At the same moment another man's head emerged
from the adjoining window. Each looked in the other's face.
Knight and Stephen confronted one another.
'You here!' said the younger man.
'Yes. It seems that you are too,' said Knight, strangely.
'Yes.'
The selfishness of love and the cruelty of jealousy were fairly
exemplified at this moment. Each of the two men looked at his
friend as he had never looked at him before. Each was TROUBLED at
the other's presence.
'I thought you said you were not coming till to-morrow,' remarked
Knight.
'I did. It was an afterthought to come to-day. This journey was
your engagement, then?'
'No, it was not. This is an afterthought of mine too.
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