'Yes, it was all clear. But what is the lameness owing to?'

'I don't know--nothing. It has quite gone off now . . . Cytherea,
I hope you like Springrove. Springrove's a nice fellow, you know.'

'Yes. I think he is, except that--'

'It happened just to the purpose that I should meet him there,
didn't it? And when I reached the station and learnt that I could
not get on by train my foot seemed better. I started off to walk
home, and went about five miles along a path beside the railway. It
then struck me that I might not be fit for anything to-day if I
walked and aggravated the bothering foot, so I looked for a place to
sleep at. There was no available village or inn, and I eventually
got the keeper of a gate-house, where a lane crossed the line, to
take me in.'

They proceeded with their breakfast. Owen yawned.

'You didn't get much sleep at the gate-house last night, I'm afraid,
Owen,' said his sister.

'To tell the truth, I didn't. I was in such very close and narrow
quarters. Those gate-houses are such small places, and the man had
only his own bed to offer me. Ah, by-the-bye, Cythie, I have such
an extraordinary thing to tell you in connection with this man!--by
Jove, I had nearly forgotten it! But I'll go straight on. As I was
saying, he had only his own bed to offer me, but I could not afford
to be fastidious, and as he had a hearty manner, though a very queer