"
"Never mind," she replied, nodding sagely, "you will thank me when you
have to hunt for your box amongst twenty others exactly like it."
Kate had suggested going to the station to see them off, but her father
objected.
"We shall get on better alone," he argued. "We settle ourselves
comfortably in our corners at once, unroll our rugs, and make everything
ready before we start, instead of having to make spasmodic efforts to
think of last remarks and messages. Of course, if Ella were going alone
I should go to see her off, but as it is I would rather not have anyone
with us."
Mrs. Hastings thought this a rather hard-hearted way of looking at the
matter; but as Ella quite agreed with her father, feeling convinced she
could not be able to keep from crying if the farewells were too long
protracted, there was nothing for it but to yield, and as soon as the
cab came to the door the parting was hurried through, and, almost before
she had time to realise that she was really going, Ella found herself
halfway to the station.
The railway journey was a long and troublesome one, involving several
changes. Before midday Ella had recovered her spirits and her appetite,
and acted on Kate's advice.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49