CHAPTER V

AS NIGHT APPROACHES

Neither spoke until the boat came to its slippery, uncertain landing-place on the opposite side of the river.  Then each breathed easier, in a sigh that seemed to express both relief and dismay.

“It’s a very ugly looking river,” she murmured encouragingly.  She was afraid he might feel obliged, in honour, to offer an explanation for his presence, perhaps attempt to convince her in some tangible way that she was to expect nothing but slavish devotion from him in the future.

“I don’t wonder that the bridge gave way,” he replied politely.  They looked at each other involuntarily, and then instantly looked away.

“I’d give my head to know what she expects of me,” thought Windomshire miserably.

“How I despise that old woman!” welled up in Eleanor’s bitter heart.  Everything was awry.  Luckily for both of them a small boy slipped into the river at that moment.  He was rescued by the brakeman, but not until the catastrophe had served its purpose as a godsend.  The excitement which attended the rescue saved the couple an uncomfortable ten minutes.  Eleanor went to the assistance of the distracted mother; Windomshire, in his eagerness to do something, offered to exchange clothes with the dripping trainman; the small boy howled as lustily as his wheezy lungs would permit.  Everybody shouted advice to the mother, rebukes to the boy, and praise to the hero; altogether Providence was acting most handsomely.

At last the final boatload of passengers crossed the river and drew up at the landing; Eleanor, with her bewildered fiance, stepped into the beaming presence of Mrs. Van Truder.

“Come with us,” she said with a friendliness that shattered all hope.  “Mr. Van Truder has just arranged for breakfast at that farmhouse over there.  The relief train won’t be here for half an hour or more and you must be famished.”  Eleanor’s flimsy excuses were unavailing; her protestations that she could not eat a mouthful fell on obdurate ears.  Windomshire, catching sight of the forlorn Anne, was about to assert himself vigorously in declining the invitation when a meaning look from the governess caused him to refrain.  The look very plainly told him to accept.

The unhappy couple followed the Van Truders to the nearby farmhouse.  They left behind them on the edge of the crowd, seated side by side on a pile of ties, two miserable partners in the fiasco.  Gloomy, indeed, was the outlook for Miss Courtenay and the despised Mr. Dauntless.  They were silent for many minutes after the departure, rage in their hearts.  Then Mr. Dauntless could hold his tongue no longer.

“Damn her!” he exploded so viciously that Anne jumped and cried out,—­

“Mr. Dauntless!”

“Oh, you feel just as I do about it only you won’t say it aloud,” he exclaimed.  “I won’t stand for it!”