He is here. Hallo, Brown,' John said, calling to a
man in the distance, who came forward, and, on learning what was wanted,
begun piling the trunks into his wagon, while Arthur followed John, to
the carriage, which he entered, and, sinking into a seat, pulled his
broad-brimmed hat over his face and eyes, and sat as motionless as if he
had been a stone.
For a moment John stood looking at him, wondering what manner of man he
was, and thinking, too, of the woman who, he said, had been with him in
the train, and who should have alighted with him. At last, remembering
suddenly a message his master had given him, he began:
'If you please, sir, Mr. Tracy told me to tell you he was very sorry
that he could not come himself to meet you. If he had known that you
were coming sooner, he would have done different; but he did not get
your telegram till this morning, and then it was too late to stop it. We
are having a great break-down to-night.'
During the first of these remarks Arthur had given no sign that he
heard, but when John spoke of a break-down, he lifted his head quickly,
and the great black eyes, which Harold noticed later as peculiar,
flashed a look of inquiry upon John, as he said:
'Break-down? What is that!'
'A party--a smasher! Mr.
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