Page:Adams - A Child of the Age.djvu/129

117 Oh yes, that's your word: "Delusion." Very well! We shall see what we shall see. My dear boy, I am not given to morbidity, believe me.—You didn't forget to get some papers ?'

I started up.

'I am sorry. I have forgotten all about them. I will go at once.—What papers shall I get?'

'No, I should have got them myself. Let me go. I have been doing all the talking and you all the work. It was very kind of old Gordon to come down to give me a God-speed and shake o' the hand, wasn't it, Starkie?—You didn't see him, I thought. He kept me chattering with him.—Stop! stop! I'll go. I really insist on going!'

'It is only at the end of the platform, sir,' I said, 'let me'

'No, no, I will go myself. You stop here.—Is there any paper you particularly like, Starkie? Are you a liberal or a conservative?'

Mr. Starkie, with his feet upon the cushions, looked round with his usual beard-twitching smile:

'Oh, I'm neither. They're both equally bad.—Get me a "society" paper.' As Mr. Brooke hurried away, Mr. Starkie said something sarcastic about 'society papers.' Then, after a pause (I knew nothing about 'society papers'), I went on to the platform, and began walking up and down before the carriage.

All at once I saw Mr. Brooke, with some papers in his hand, coming towards the open gate. A shabbily-dressed man was slouching along at right-angles to him. They met. I saw Mr. Brooke start back: half-loose and then clutch the papers: let the man pass by, and then come towards me, but more slowly. I thought nothing of it: re-entered the carriage; and a moment after he was at the door, and threw the papers on to the seat. I was arranging some rugs upon the rack. Then the guard came to the door to examine our tickets. I had Mr. Brooke's. As I gave it up with mine, I noticed him. He was sitting staring in front of him, with his hand supporting his head. He was very pale. I stood in doubt, looking at him.