hat his wife's hiding-place was known to the vile servant of
his wife's vices; and darkly suspecting, as the time wore on, that the
unknown man who had wronged him, and the unknown traveler for whose
arrival the steward was waiting, were one and the same.

The train was late that night, and the carriages were more than usually
crowded when they arrived at last. Midwinter became involved in the
confusion on the platform, and in the effort to extricate himself he
lost sight of Mr. Bashwood for the first time.

A lapse of some few minutes had passed before he again discovered the
steward talking eagerly to a man in a loose shaggy coat, whose back was
turned toward him. Forgetful of all the cautions and restraints which
he had imposed on himself before the train appeared, Midwinter instantly
advanced on them. Mr. Bashwood saw his threatening face as he came on,
and fell back in silence. The man in the loose coat turned to look where
the steward was looking, and disclosed to Midwinter, in the full light
of the station-lamp, Allan's face!

For the moment they both stood speechless, hand in hand, looking at each
other. Allan was the first to recover himself.

"Thank God for this!" he said, fervently. "I don't ask how you came
here: it's enough for me that you have come. Miserable news has met me
already, Midwinter. Nobody but you can comfort me, and help me to bear
it." His voice faltered over those last words, and he said no more.

The tone in which he had spoken roused Midwinter to meet the
circumstances as they were, by appealing to the old grateful interest
in his friend which had once been the foremost interest of his life. He
mastered his personal misery for the first time since it had fallen on
him, and gently taking Allan aside, asked what had happened.

The answer--after informing him of his friend's reported death at
sea--announced (on Mr. Bashwood's authority) that the news had reached
Miss Milroy, and that the deplorable result of the shock thus inflicted
had obliged the major to place his daughter in the neighborhood of
London, under medical care.

Before saying a word on his side, Midwinter looked distrustfully behind
him. Mr. Bashwood had followed them. Mr. Bashwood was watching to see
what they did next.

"Was he waiting your arrival here to tell you this about Miss Milroy?"
asked Midwinter, looking again from the steward to Allan.

"Yes," said Allan. "He has been kindly waiting here, night after night