第44章

"Oh, thank you, my good fellow," said Jane, putting the plate on the seat, while she dived into her pocket."Here! you have done very well for me.No, never mind the change.Coffee at a moment's notice should fetch a fancy price.Good-bye."The train moved on, and the porter stood looking after it with tears in his eyes.Over the first half-crown he had said to himself: "Milk and new-laid eggs." Now, as he pocketed the second, he added the other two things mentioned by the parish doctor: "Soup and jelly";and his heart glowed."Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things."And Jane, seated in a comfortable corner, choked back the tears of relief which threatened to fall, drank her coffee, and was thereby more revived than she could have thought possible.She, also, had need of many things.Not of half-crowns; of those she had plenty.

But above all else she needed just now a wise, strong, helpful friend, and Deryck had not failed her.

She read his telegram through once more, and smiled.How like him to think of the coffee; and oh, how like him to be coming to the station.

She took off her hat and leaned back against the cushions.She had been travelling night and day, in one feverish whirl of haste, and at last she had brought herself within reach of Deryck's hand and Deryck's safe control.The turmoil of her soul was stilled; a great calm took its place, and Jane dropped quietly off to sleep."Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things."* * * * * * *Washed and brushed and greatly refreshed, Jane stood at the window of her compartment as the train steamed into Charing Cross.

The doctor was stationed exactly opposite the door when her carriage came to a standstill; mere chance, and yet, to Jane, it seemed so like him to have taken up his position precisely at the right spot on that long platform.An enthusiastic lady patient had once said of Deryck Brand, with more accuracy of definition than of grammar: "You know, he is always so very JUST THERE." And this characteristic of the doctor had made him to many a very present help in time of trouble.

He was through the line of porters and had his hand upon the handle of Jane's door in a moment.Standing at the window, she took one look at the firm lean face, now alight with welcome, and read in the kind, steadfast eyes of her childhood's friend a perfect sympathy and comprehension.Then she saw behind him her aunt's footman, and her own maid, who had been given a place in the duchess's household.

In another moment she was on the platform and her hand was in Deryck's.

"That is right, dear," he said."All fit and well, I can see.Now hand over your keys.I suppose you have nothing contraband? Itelephoned the duchess to send some of her people to meet your luggage, and not to expect you herself until dinner time, as you were taking tea with us.Was that right? This way.Come outside the barrier.What a rabble! All wanting to break every possible rule and regulation, and each trying to be the first person in the front row.

Really the patience and good temper of railway officials should teach the rest of mankind a lesson."The doctor, talking all the time, piloted Jane through the crowd;opened the door of a neat electric brougham, helped her in, took his seat beside her, and they glided swiftly out into the Strand, and turned towards Trafalgar Square.

"Well," said the doctor, "Niagara is a big thing isn't it? When people say to me, 'Were you not disappointed in Niagara? WE were!' Ifeel tempted to wish, for one homicidal moment, that the earth would open her mouth and swallow them up.People who can be disappointed in Niagara, and talk about it, should no longer be allowed to crawl on the face of the earth.And how about the 'Little Mother'? Isn't she worth knowing? I hope she sent me her love.And New York harbour! Did you ever see anything to equal it, as you steam away in the sunset?"Jane gave a sudden sob; then turned to him, dry-eyed.

"Is there no hope, Deryck?"

The doctor laid his hand on hers."He will always be blind, dear.

But life holds other things beside sight.We must never say: 'No hope.'""Will he live?"

"There is no reason he should not live.But how far life will be worth living, largely depends upon what can be done for him, poor chap, during the next few months.He is more shattered mentally than physically."Jane pulled off her gloves, swallowed suddenly, then gripped the doctor's knee."Deryck--I love him."The doctor remained silent for a few moments, as if pondering this tremendous fact.Then he lifted the fine, capable hand resting upon his knee and kissed it with a beautiful reverence,--a gesture expressing the homage of the man to the brave truthfulness of the woman.

"In that case, dear," he said, "the future holds in store so great a good for Garth Dalmain that I think he may dispense with sight.--Meanwhile you have much to say to me, and it is, of course, your right to hear every detail of his case that I can give.And here we are at Wimpole Street.Now come into my consulting-room.Stoddart has orders that we are on no account to be disturbed."