s of the head, insisting and protesting and insisting,
while the other, saying much less, maintained his damnable stupid
disdainful grin.

Would he let the train go, in his feverish preoccupation? Hilda was
seriously afraid that he would. The last trunks were flung into the
front van, the stationmaster in his tall hat waved curtly to the
glittering guard; the guard waved his flag, and whistled; a porter
banged the door of Hilda's compartment, ignoring her gestures; the
engine whistled. And at that moment George Cannon, throwing apparently a
last malediction at young Lawton, sprang towards the train, and, seeing
Hilda's face, rushed to the door which she strained to open again.

"I was afraid you'd be left behind," she said, as he dropped his bag on
the seat and the affronted stationmaster himself shut the door.

"Not quite!" ejaculated Cannon grimly.

The smooth, irresistible gliding of the train became apparent,
establishing a sudden aloof calm. Hilda perceived that all her muscles
were tense.

In the compartment was a middle-aged couple.

"What's this place?" asked the woman.

"Looks like Tamworth," said the man sleepily.

"Knype, sir!" George Cannon corrected him very sharply. He was so
wrought up that he had omitted even to shake hands with Hilda. Making no
effort to talk, and showing no curiosity about Hilda's welfare or
doings, he moved uneasily on his seat, and from time to time opened and
shut the Gladstone bag. Gradually the flush paled from his face.

At Lichfield the middle-aged couple took advice from a porter and
stumbled out of the train.

II

"We're fairly out of the smoke now," said Hilda, when the train began to
move again. As a fact, they had been fairly out of the smoke of the Five
Towns for more than half an hour; but Hilda spoke at random, timidly,
nervously, for the sake of speaking. And she was as apologetic as though
it was she herself who by some untimely discretion had annoyed George
Cannon.

"Yes, thank God!" he replied fiercely, blowing with pleasure upon the
embers of his resentment. "And I'll take good care I never go into it
again--to live, that is!"

"Really?" she murmured, struck into an extreme astonishment.

He produced a cigar and a match-box.

"May I?" he demanded carelessly, and accepted her affirmative as of
course.

"You've heard about my little affair?" he asked, after lighting the
cigar. And he gazed at her curiously.

"No."

"Do you mean to say that n