Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/177

Rh even for him. "And—ah, Mrs. Varris and Miss Varris!" he altered suddenly to greet the women. "But—ah," he turned back queerly to the young American, "you are—ah, travelling again with Mrs. Varris, Mr. Preston?"

"There is no one else in here, Mr. Dunneston," Mrs. Varris said cordially, "and as the train is already starting, won't you come in here with us? We shall be very glad to have you. You, too, are bound for Cornwall?"

"Thanks. Ah—yes," he answered, resigning himself to his seat as he scrambled in and the train gained speed. "I am, ah—very fortunate, Mrs. Varris! Mr. Preston indicated that you were in town yesterday; but I did not know that he was to travel with you again—after—ah, the event of last night."

"But why not, Mr. Dunneston?" the girl demanded, smiling expectantly at the young American. The Englishman settled back and regarded her seriously. "Why, Mr. Preston 155