She must receive it this very night, and he
knew not how to ensure that save by delivering it himself. So he
went to Westbourne Park by train, and walked to Mrs Yule's house.
At this hour the family were probably at dinner; yes, the window
of the dining-room showed lights within, whilst those of the
drawing-room were in shadow. After a little hesitation he rang
the servants' bell. When the door opened, he handed his letter to
the girl, and requested that it might be given to Mrs Reardon as
soon as possible. With one more hasty glance at the window--Amy
was perhaps enjoying her unwonted comfort--he walked quickly
away.
As he re-entered what had been his home, its bareness made his
heart sink. An hour or two had sufficed for this devastation;
nothing remained upon the uncarpeted floors but the needments he
would carry with him into the wilderness, such few evidences of
civilisation as the poorest cannot well dispense with. Anger,
revolt, a sense of outraged love--all manner of confused passions
had sustained him throughout this day of toil; now he had leisure
to know how faint he was.
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