This did not look very promising for the drive to the station, and Frank opened the business hesitatingly, and asked John what he thought of it.
'I think I would not go out in such a storm as this with my back if Queen Victoria was to be there,' John answered gruffly.

'And what would be the use ?' he continued.

'I have been to meet that woman, if she is a woman, with the outlandish name, more than fifty times, I'll bet; he don't know what he is talking about when he gets on her track.

And s'posin' she does come, she can find somebody to fetch her.

She ain't going to walk.' This seemed reasonable; and as Frank's sympathies were with his coachman and horses rather than with Gretchen and his brother, he decided with John that he need not go, but added, laughingly, as he saw the man walk across the floor as well as he ever did on his way to the woodshed: 'Seems to me your broken back has recovered its elasticity very soon.' To this John made no reply except an inaudible growl, and Frank returned to the library, resolving not to go near his brother until after train time, but to let him think that John had gone to the station.
At half-past five, however, Arthur sent for him, and said: 'Has he gone?
It must be time.' 'Not quite; it is only half-past five.