It was
probable, Alethia considered, that Robert came into the last category, in
which case she was certain to enjoy the companionship of one or two
excellent women, and might possibly catch glimpses of undesirable
adventuresses or come face to face with reckless admiration-seeking
married women. It was altogether an exciting prospect, this sudden
venture into an unexplored world of unknown human beings, and Alethia
rather wished that she could have taken the vicar with her; she was not,
however, rich or important enough to travel with a chaplain, as the
Marquis of Moystoncleugh always did in the novel she had just been
reading, so she recognised that such a proceeding was out of the
question.
The train which carried Alethia towards her destination was a local one,
with the wayside station habit strongly developed. At most of the
stations no one seemed to want to get into the train or to leave it, but
at one there were several market folk on the platform, and two men, of
the farmer or small cattle-dealer class, entered Alethia's carriage.
Apparently they had just foregathered, after a day's business, and their
conversation consisted of a rapid exchange of short friendly inquiries as
to health, family, stock, and so forth, and some grumbling remarks on the
weather.
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