e was pacing the platform and
thinking of Neelie, when he heard the rustling of a lady's dress behind
him, and, turning round to look, found himself face to face with Miss
Gwilt.

There was no escaping her this time. The station wall was on his right
hand, and the line was on his left; a tunnel was behind him, and Miss
Gwilt was in front, inquiring in her sweetest tones whether Mr. Armadale
was going to London.

Allan colored scarlet with vexation and surprise. There he was obviously
waiting for the train; and there was his portmanteau close by, with his
name on it, already labeled for London! What answer but the true one
could he make after that? Could he let the train go without him, and
lose the precious hours so vitally important to Neelie and himself?
Impossible! Allan helplessly confirmed the printed statement on his
portmanteau, and heartily wished himself at the other end of the world
as he said the words.

"How very fortunate!" rejoined Miss Gwilt. "I am going to London too.
Might I ask you Mr. Armadale (as you seem to be quite alone), to be my
escort on the journey?"

Allan looked at the little assembly of travelers, and travelers'
friends, collected on the platform, near the booking-office door. They
were all Thorpe Ambrose people. He was probably known by sight, and
Miss Gwilt was probably known by sight, to every one of them. In sheer
desperation, hesitating more awkwardly than ever, he produced his cigar
case. "I should be delighted," he said, with an embarrassment which was
almost an insult under the circumstances. "But I--I'm what the people
who get sick over a cigar call a slave to smoking."

"I delight in smoking!" said Miss Gwilt, with undiminished vivacity and
good humor. "It's one of the privileges of the men which I have always
envied. I'm afraid, Mr. Armadale, you must think I am forcing myself on
you. It certainly looks like it. The real truth is, I want particularly
to say a word to you in private about Mr. Midwinter."

The train came up at the same moment. Setting Midwinter out of the
question, the common decencies of politeness left Allan no alternative
but to submit. After having been the cause of her leaving her situation
at Major Milroy's, after having pointedly avoided her only a few days
since on the high-road, to have declined going to London in the same
carriage with Miss Gwilt would have been an act of downright brutality
which it was simply impossible to commit. "Damn her!" sai