Flinders! They had not been obliged to
start nearly so early as the other party, as the journey was much
shorter, and with no change of line, so they had quietly walked to the
station by ten o'clock, arrived at Darminster at half-past eleven, and
have been met by the personage whom Dolores recognized as Uncle Alfred.
Constance was a little disappointed not to see something more
distinguished, and less flashy in style, but he was so polite and
complimentary, and made such touching allusions to his misfortunes and
his dear sister, that she soon began to think him exceedingly
interesting, and pitied him greatly when he said he could not take them
to his lodgings--they were not fit for his niece or her friend, who had
done him a kindness for which he could never be sufficiently grateful,
in affording him a glimpse of his dear sister's child. It made Dolores
wince, for she never could bear the mention of her mother, it was like
touching a wound, and the old sensation of discomfort and dislike to
her uncle's company began to grow over her again, now that she was not
struggling against Mohun opposition to her meeting him. He lionized
them about the town, but it was a foggy, drizzly day, one of those when
the fringe of sea-coast often enjoys finer weather than inland places;
the streets were very sloppy, and Dolores and Constance did not do much
beyond purchasing a few cards and some presents at a fancy shop, as
they had agreed to do, to serve as an excuse for their expedition in
case it could not be kept a secret, and most of the visit was made in
the waiting-room at the station, or walking up and down the platform.
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