Two ladies filled the room with their
shadows and the little fire clicked and rattled behind the murmuring
voices.
II
Alice Galleon burst in upon them. "What! Not arrived yet! the train must be
dreadfully late. Lights! Lights! No, don't you move, mother!"
She returned with lamps and flooded the room with light. The ladies
displayed a feeble protest against her exultant happiness.
"I'm sure, my dear, I hope that nothing has happened."
"My dear mother, what _could_ happen?"
"Well, you never know with these trains--and a honeymoon, too, is always
rather a dangerous time. I remember--"
"I hear them!" Alice cried and there indeed they were to be heard bumping
and banging in the little hall. The door opened and Peter and Clare,
radiant with happiness, appeared.
They stood in the doorway, side by side, Clare in a little white hat and
grey travelling dress and Peter browner and stronger and squarer than ever.
All these people filled the little room. There was a crackling fire of
conversation.
"Oh! but we've had a splendid time--"
"No, I don't think Clare's in the least tired--"
"Yes, isn't the house a duck?"
"Don't we just love being back!"
"... hoping you hadn't caught colds--"
"... besides we had the easiest crossing--"
"... How's Bobby?"
"... were so afraid that something must have happened--"
Mrs.
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