The task before him, too, gave him no small anxiety. The directions
in the letter were plain enough, but not so the intention of Mrs.
Goodwyn-Sandys. Did she mean him to elope with her? He did not care
to face the question. The Admiral, though an indulgent father, was
not extravagant; and Sam had but seven-and-sixpence in his pocket.
This was an excellent sum for long whist at threepenny points, but
would hardly defray the cost of an elopement. Besides, he did not
want to elope.
"No _words_ of mine will repay you." Now he came to consider, these
words wore an awkward look. Good Heavens! he had a mind to drop
the portmanteau and run home. What had he done to be tempted so?
And why had these people ever come to Troy?
Ah! Sam, that was the question we should have asked ourselves months
ago. Some time before, at a concert in the Town Hall, I remember
that Mr. Moggridge sang the line--
"Too late the balm when the heart is broke!"
And a Trojan voice at the back assented--
"A durn sight."
Why had we been denied that perspicacity now?
So with a heavy burden, and heavier conscience (both of Mrs.
Goodwyn-Sandys' packing), he trudged forward, kicking up clouds of
dust that sparkled in the moonlight. Presently the ascent grew more
gradual, the hedges lower, and over their tops he could feel the
upland air breathing coolly from the sea.
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