Derwent,
and a retreat in Surrey would best suit their purposes, some place
where lodgings could be at once obtained. The subject of difference
put aside, they talked again freely and affectionately of this
sudden escape from a life which in any case Mrs. Hannaford could not
have endured much longer. About nine o'clock, the quiet of the house
was broken by a postman's knock; Olga ran to take the letter, and
exclaimed on seeing the address--
"Why, it's from Mr. Otway, and an English stamp!"
Mrs. Hannaford found a note of a few lines. Piers Otway had reached
London that morning, and would be in town for a day or two only,
before going on into Yorkshire. Could he see his old friends
to-morrow? He would call in the afternoon.
"Better reply to-night," said Olga, "and save him the trouble of
coming here."
The letter in her hand, Mrs. Hannaford stood thinking, a half-smile
about her lips.
"Yes; I must write," she said slowly. "But perhaps he could come and
see us in the country. I'll tell him where we are going."
They talked of possible retreats, and decided upon Epsom, which was
not far from their old home at Ewell; then Mrs. Hannaford replied to
Otway. Through the past three years she had often heard from him,
and she knew that he was purposing a visit to England, but no date
had been mentioned. After writing, she was silent, thoughtful. Olga,
too, having been out to post the letter, sat absorbed in her own
meditations.
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