You'll excuse me, Mr Railsford, but as you are taking charge, I should like to be spared away an hour or so.

I feel so upset, like.

A bit of fresh air would be the very thing for me." She was evidently in such a panic on her own account, and so nervous of her proximity even to Railsford, that he saw it was little use to object.
"You must be back in two hours, without fail," said he; "I may want you to go for the doctor again." She went; and Railsford, as he listened to the clatter of her boots across the quadrangle, felt more than ever utterly alone.

He set himself to clear the room as far as possible of all unnecessary furniture.

The poor fellow's things lay about in hopeless confusion.
Evidently he had had it in his mind to pack up yesterday; but had felt too ill to carry out his purpose, and gone to bed intending to finish in the morning.
Flannels, running-shoes, caps, books, linen, and papers lay scattered over the room, and Railsford, as he gathered them together and tried to reduce the chaos to order, felt his heart sink with an undefined apprehension.
Yesterday, perhaps, this little array of goods and chattels meant much to the young master who called them his.