"I've been thinking of going out of London for a few days, perhaps
to the seaside."
"Go to Weymouth!" cried Sally, delighted at the thought. "Go and see
my people, and tell un how I'm getting on. They'll make you hide
with un all the time you're there, s'nough. It isn't a big house,
but it's comfortable, and see if our mother wouldn't look after you!
It's three weeks since I wrote; if I don't mind there'll be our
father up here looking after I. Now, do go!"
"No, it's too far. Besides, if I go, I shall want to be quite
alone."
On the following evening Waymark was expected. At his last visit he
had noticed that Ida was not in her usual spirits. To-night he saw
that something was clearly wrong, and when Ida spoke of going to the
seaside, he strongly. urged her to do so.
"Where should you go to?" he asked.
"I think to Hastings. I went there once, when I was a child, with my
mother--I believe I told you. I had rather go there than anywhere
else."
"I feel the need of a change myself," he said, a moment after, and
without looking at her. "Suppose I were to go to Hastings, too--at
the same time that you're there--would you dislike it?"
She merely shook her head, almost indifferently.
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