'No, Mr. St. Cleeve; my lady has not returned from Bath. We expect
her every day.'
'Nobody staying in the house?'
'My lady's brother has been here; but he is gone on to Budmouth. He
will come again in two or three weeks, I understand.'
This was enough. Swithin said he would call again, and returned to
the cabin, where, waking Viviette, who was not by nature an early
riser, he waited on the column till she was ready to breakfast.
When this had been shared they prepared to start.
A long walk was before them. Warborne station lay five miles
distant, and the next station above that nine miles. They were
bound for the latter; their plan being that she should there take
the train to the junction where the whip accident had occurred,
claim her luggage, and return with it to Warborne, as if from Bath.
The morning was cool and the walk not wearisome. When once they had
left behind the stubble-field of their environment and the parish of
Welland, they sauntered on comfortably, Lady Constantine's spirits
rising as she withdrew further from danger.
They parted by a little brook, about half a mile from the station;
Swithin to return to Welland by the way he had come.
Lady Constantine telegraphed from the junction to Warborne for a
carriage to be in readiness to meet her on her arrival; and then,
waiting for the down train, she travelled smoothly home, reaching
Welland House about five minutes sooner than Swithin reached the
column hard by, after footing it all the way from where they had
parted.
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