Careless of the frank curiosity with which the people
of the house regarded him, he went down at seven o’clock,
and asked for a railway time-table. Having found
a convenient train to Canterbury, he ordered breakfast
for himself and the child to be laid in a private
room. It was a merry meal. Sunshine of midsummer
fell warm and bright upon the table; the street below
was so full of busy life that the little boy must
needs have his breakfast by the window, where he could
eat and look forth at the same time. No such
delightful holiday had he ever enjoyed. Alone
with father, and going away by train into wonderful
new worlds.
‘Is Emma coming?’ he asked.
It was significant that he did not speak of his mother.
They drove to the railway station, Peachey no less
excited than the child. From here he despatched
a telegram to his partners, saying that he should
be absent for a day or two.
Then the train, struggling slowly out of London’s
welter, through the newest outposts of gloom and grime,
bore them, hearts companioned in love and blamelessness,
to the broad sunny meadows and the sweet hop-gardens
of Kent.
‘Serves her jolly well right,’ said Beatrice.
‘A lot she’ll care,’ said
Fanny. ’I should think myself precious
lucky. She gets rid of him, and of the kid too,
and has as much as she wants to live on. It’s
better than she deserves.—Do you believe
he’s been carrying on with that girl?’
Miss. French laughed contemptuously.
‘Not he!’
’Well, there’s been a jolly good row to-night,
if we never see another. We shall all be in the
papers!’ The prospect had charms for Fanny.
‘What are you going to do? Live here till
Christmas?’
Beatrice was quietly reviewing the situation.
She kept silence, and her sister also became meditative.
Suddenly Fanny inquired:
‘What sort of a place is Brussels?’
’Brussels? Why? I know nothing about
it. Not much of a place, I think; sprouts come
from there, don’t they?’
‘It’s a big town,’ said the other,
’and a lively sort of place, they say.
‘Why do you ask me, if you know? What about
it?’
As usual when performing the operation which, in her,
answered to thought, Fanny shuffled with her hands
on her waist. At a distance from Beatrice she
stood still, and said:
’Some one I know is going there. I’ve
a good mind to go too. I want to see abroad.’
Her sister asked several searching questions, but
Fanny would not make known whether the friend was
male or female.
‘I shouldn’t be much surprised,’
remarked the woman of business, indifferently, ’if
you go and make a fool of yourself before long.
That Mrs. Damerel is up to some game with you; any
one could see it with half an eye. I suppose
it isn’t Lord that’s going to Brussels?’
