"He went to meet that girl from the old country, and find out his mistake." Seaforth said nothing, but went out in haste and saddled a horse, for although it had been apparent to him that there was no affection wasted between Alice Deringham and Mrs.Margery, her words had left him with a vague uneasiness.
In the meantime Alton dropped very stiffly from the saddle in front of Horton's hotel, and, limping up the stairway, found the man who kept it upon the verandah.
"Glad to see you coming round, Harry; but you're looking very white, and walking kind of stiff," he said.
"Yes," said Alton dryly.

"I shall probably walk just that way all my life." Horton made no attempt to condole with him.

He knew Alton tolerably well, and felt that any sympathy he could offer would be inadequate.
"Well," he said, "here's a letter Thomson brought you in from the railroad." Alton tore open the envelope, and read the message with a faint relief, for it was from Deringham, and stated that an affair of business would prevent him returning to Somasco for some little time.

Then he remembered that to delay a question which must be asked would but prolong the suspense.
"I'm going through to the railroad, but the ride has shaken me, and I'll lie down and sleep a while," he said.
"Well," said Horton, "you know best, but you look a long way more fit to be sitting beside the stove up there at the ranch.

That was a tolerably bad accident you had ?" Alton glanced at him sharply, but his voice was indifferent as he answered.