CHAPTER XIII.
FEVER.
The dews of an October evening were falling upon Calne, as Lord Hartledon walked from the railway-station.

Just as unexpectedly as he had arrived the morning you first saw him, when he was only Val Elster, had he arrived now.

By the merest accident one of the Hartledon servants happened to be at the station when the train arrived, and took charge of his master's luggage.
"All well at home, James ?" "All quite well, my lord." Several weeks had elapsed since his brother's death, and Lord Hartledon had spent them in London.

He went up on business the week after the funeral, and did not return again.

In one respect he had no inducement to return; for the Ashtons, including Anne, were on a visit in Wales.