merely announced that there was no hotel except the depot waiting-room.

"By the way, does Mr. Dudley live out in the country?" he asked
insidiously. She flushed and then looked at him narrowly.

"No. He's visiting his uncle up here."

"Funny he missed you."

"It's terribly annoying," she said coldly. Then she walked away from him
as if suddenly conscious that she should not be conversing with a
good-looking stranger at such a time and place and under such peculiar
circumstances. He withdrew to the platform and his own reflections.

"He's an infernal cad for not meeting her," he found himself saying, her
pretty, distressed face still before him. "I don't care a rap whether
she's doing right or wrong--she's game. Still, she's a blamed little fool
to be travelling up here on such an outlandish train. So he's visiting an
uncle, eh? Then the chances are they're not going to Eagle Nest. Lucky I
waited here--I'd have lost them entirely if I'd gone back to Albany. But
where the deuce is she to sleep till morn--" He heard rapid footsteps
behind him and turned to distinguish Mrs. Wharton as she approached dimly
but gracefully. The air seemed full of her.

"Oh, Mr.--Mr.--" she was saying eagerly.

"Rollins."

"Isn't there a later train, Mr. Rollins?"