to-day than you were.'

'I, too, have been suffering from headache. We have to wait here a few
minutes, I think.'

They walked up and down the platform, each one more and more
embarrassingly concerned with the awkwardness of his friend's
presence. They reached the end of the footway, and paused in sheer
absent-mindedness. Stephen's vacant eyes rested upon the operations of
some porters, who were shifting a dark and curious-looking van from the
rear of the train, to shunt another which was between it and the fore
part of the train. This operation having been concluded, the two friends
returned to the side of their carriage.

'Will you come in here?' said Knight, not very warmly.

'I have my rug and portmanteau and umbrella with me: it is rather
bothering to move now,' said Stephen reluctantly. 'Why not you come
here?'

'I have my traps too. It is hardly worth while to shift them, for I
shall see you again, you know.'

'Oh, yes.'

And each got into his own place. Just at starting, a man on the platform
held up his hands and stopped the train.

Stephen looked out to see what was the matter.

One of the officials was exclaiming to another, 'That carriage should
have been attached again. Can't you see it is for the main line? Quick!
What fools there are in the world!'

'What a confounded nuisance these stoppages are!' exclaimed Knight
impatiently, looking out from his compartment. 'What is it?'

'That singular carriage we saw has been unfastened from our train by
mistake, it seems,' said Stephen.

He was watching the process of attaching it. The van or carriage, which
he now recognized as having seen at Paddington before they started, was
rich and solemn rather than gloomy in aspect. It seemed to be quite
new, and of modern design, and its impressive personality attracted the
notice of others beside himself. He beheld it gradually wheeled forward
by two men on each side: slower and more sadly it seemed to approach:
then a slight concussion, and they were connected with it, and off
again.

Stephen sat all the afternoon pondering upon the reason of Knight's
unexpected reappearance. Was he going as far as Castle Boterel? If so,
he could only have one object in view--a visit to Elfride. And what an
idea it seemed!

At Plymouth Smith partook of a little refreshment, and then went round
to the side from which the train started for Camelton, the new station
near Castle Boterel and Endelstow.

Knight was already