If he had only looked round at the vehicle for a
moment, he must have seen Valentine sitting inside it, and counting out
the money for his fare.
But he still went on--straight on, looking aside at nothing. He fronted
the wind and the clearing quarter of the sky as he walked. The shower
was now fast subsiding; and the first rays of returning sunlight, as
they streamed through mist and cloud, fell tenderly and warmly on his
face.
Though he did not show it outwardly, there was strife and trouble
within him. The name of Zack was often on his lips, and he varied
constantly in his rate of walking; now quickening, now slackening his
pace at irregular intervals. It was evening before he turned back
towards home--night, before he sat down again in the chair by young
Thorpe's bedside.
"I'm a deal better to-night, Mat," said Zack, answering his first
inquiries. "That good fellow, Blyth, has come back: he's been sitting
here with me a couple of hours or more. Where have you been to all day,
you restless old Rough and Tough?" he continued, with something of his
natural lighthearted manner returning already. "There's a letter come
for you, by-the-by. The landlady said she would put it on the table in
the front room.
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