Astonished, Mumford drew aside with her to a quiet part of the long platform.  Louise, keeping a very grave countenance, told him rapidly all that had befallen since his departure from home in the morning.

’I behaved horridly, and I was sorry for it as soon as I had left the house.  After all Mrs. Mumford’s kindness to me, and yours, I don’t know how I could be so horrid.  But the quarrel with mother had upset me so, and I felt so miserable when Mrs. Mumford seemed to want to get rid of me.  I feel sure she didn’t really want to send me away:  she was only advising me, as she thought, for my good.  But I can’t, and won’t, go home.  And I’ve been waiting all the afternoon to see you.  No; not here.  I went to Epsom Downs and walked about, and then came back just in time.  And—­do you think I might go back?  I don’t mean now, at once, but this evening, after you’ve had dinner.  I really don’t know where to go for the night, and it’s such a stupid position to be in, isn’t it?’

With perfect naivete, or with perfect simulation of it, she looked him in the face, and it was Mumford who had to avert his eyes.  The young man felt very uncomfortable.

’Oh!  I’m quite sure Emmy will be glad to let you come for the night, Miss Derrick—­’

’Yes, but—­Mr. Mumford, I want to stay longer—­a few weeks longer.  Do you think Mrs. Mumford would forgive me?  I have made up my mind what to do, and I ought to have told her.  I should have, if I hadn’t lost my temper.’

‘Well,’ replied the other, in grave embarrassment, but feeling that he had no alternative, ‘let us go to the house—­’

’Oh!  I couldn’t.  I shouldn’t like anyone to know that I spoke to you about it.  It wouldn’t be nice, would it?  I thought if I came later, after dinner.  And perhaps you could talk to Mrs. Mumford, and—­and prepare her.  I mean, perhaps you wouldn’t mind saying you were sorry I had gone so suddenly.  And then perhaps Mrs. Mumford—­she’s so kind—­would say that she was sorry too.  And then I might come into the garden and find you both sitting there—­’

Mumford, despite his most uneasy frame of mind, betrayed a passing amusement.  He looked into the girl’s face and saw its prettiness flush with pretty confusion, and this did not tend to restore his tranquillity.

‘What shall you do in the meantime?’

’Oh! go into the town and have something to eat, and then walk about.’

‘You must be dreadfully tired already.’

’Just a little; but I don’t mind.  It serves me right.  I shall be so grateful to you, Mr. Mumford.  If you won’t let me come, I suppose I must go to London and ask one of my friends to take me in.’

’I will arrange it.  Come about half-past eight.  We shall be in the garden by then.’

Avoiding her look, he moved away and ran up the stairs.  But from the exit of the station he walked slowly, in part to calm himself, to assume his ordinary appearance, and in part to think over the comedy he was going to play.