Miss Halcombe and Miss Fairlie are away just now on
a visit to some friends in Yorkshire."
His eyes brightened, and he seemed about to say something in
answer, but the same momentary nervous spasm crossed his face
again. He took my hand, pressed it hard, and disappeared among
the crowd without saying another word. Though he was little more
than a stranger to me, I waited for a moment, looking after him
almost with a feeling of regret. I had gained in my profession
sufficient experience of young men to know what the outward signs
and tokens were of their beginning to go wrong, and when I resumed
my walk to the railway I am sorry to say I felt more than doubtful
about Mr. Hartright's future.
IV
Leaving by an early train, I got to Limmeridge in time for dinner.
The house was oppressively empty and dull. I had expected that
good Mrs. Vesey would have been company for me in the absence of
the young ladies, but she was confined to her room by a cold. The
servants were so surprised at seeing me that they hurried and
bustled absurdly, and made all sorts of annoying mistakes. Even
the butler, who was old enough to have known better, brought me a
bottle of port that was chilled.
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