There were yet three weeks wanting to the time at which she would be bound to give her answer to Larry Twentyman; but why should she keep the man waiting for three weeks when her answer was ready?
Her stepmother she knew would soon force her answer from her, and her father would be anxious to know what had been the result of her meditations.

The real period of her reprieve had been that of her absence at Cheltenham, and that period was now come to an end.

At each station as she passed them she remembered what Reginald Morton had been saying to her, and how their conversation had been interrupted,--and perhaps occasionally aided,--by the absurdities of the bird.

How sweet it had been to be near him and to listen to his whispered voice! How great was the difference between him and that other young man, the smartness of whose apparel was now becoming peculiarly distasteful to her! Certainly it would have been better for her not to have gone to Cheltenham if it was to be her fate to become Mrs.Twentyman.She was quite sure of that now.
She came up from the Dillsborough Station alone in the Bush omnibus.
She had not expected any one to meet her.

Why should any one meet her?
The porter put up her box and the omnibus left her at the door.
But she remembered well how she had gone down with Reginald Morton, and how delightful had been every little incident of the journey.
Even to walk with him up and down the platform while waiting for the train had been a privilege.