y of
the note, in no very tranquil frame of mind. There might or might not be
some deep motive at the bottom of Midwinter's conduct; but thus far it
was impossible to deny that he had behaved in such a manner as to rebuke
the rector's distrust, and to justify Allan's good opinion of him.

The morning wore on, and young Armadale never appeared. After looking
for him vainly in the yard where the yacht was building, Mr. Brock went
to Mrs. Armadale's house, and there heard news from the servant which
turned his steps in the direction of the inn. The landlord at once
acknowledged the truth: young Mr. Armadale had come there with an open
letter in his hand, and had insisted on being informed of the road which
his friend had taken. For the first time in the landlord's experience of
him, the young gentleman was out of temper; and the girl who waited on
the customers had stupidly mentioned a circumstance which had added
fuel to the fire. She had acknowledged having heard Mr. Midwinter lock
himself into his room overnight, and burst into a violent fit of crying.
That trifling particular had set Mr. Armadale's face all of a flame; he
had shouted and sworn; he had rushed into the stables; and forced the
hostler to saddle him a horse, and had set off full gallop on the road
that Ozias Midwinter had taken before him.

After cautioning the landlord to keep Allan's conduct a secret if any
of Mrs. Armadale's servants came that morning to the inn, Mr. Brock went
home again, and waited anxiously to see what the day would bring forth.

To his infinite relief his pupil appeared at the rectory late in the
afternoon.

Allan looked and spoke with a dogged determination which was quite new
in his old friend's experience of him. Without waiting to be questioned,
he told his story in his usual straightforward way. He had overtaken
Midwinter on the road; and--after trying vainly first to induce him to
return, then to find out where he was going to--had threatened to
keep company with him for the rest of the day, and had so extorted the
confession that he was going to try his luck in London. Having gained
this point, Allan had asked next for his friend's address in London, had
been entreated by the other not to press his request, had pressed it,
nevertheless, with all his might, and had got the address at last by
making an appeal to Midwinter's gratitude, for which (feeling heartily
ashamed of himself) he had afterward asked Midwinter's pardon.