An hour later she was in the train, speeding countrywards. She sat close
to the window, looking eagerly at the green fields and the budding trees.
She no longer felt disappointed about the concert. She was glad Madame
Verney had invited Pauline to go with her.

Just outside the station for Woodcote the train came to a standstill. Rose
from the window had a full view of the white road down the hillside, and
as she looked along it she caught sight of an approaching carriage. It was
a moment before she recognised the brown horses and the broad figure of
old Harris, her aunt's coachman. But directly afterwards she saw her aunt
and Rhoda Sampson, and Tom seated opposite to them.

The road passed close to the high embankment on which the train was
standing. If they had looked up, they must have seen her at the window.
But they were too intent on their conversation. Rose heard Tom laugh at
something Rhoda said, and saw him turn to Miss Merivale as if she too was
enjoying the joke.

Rose could not see her aunt's face, her parasol shaded it; but she was not
leaning back against the cushions, as she usually did. She was bending a
little forward, with her face turned towards Rhoda. It was quite plain to
Rose that it was Miss Sampson who was absorbing the attention both of Tom
and her aunt.

She stared after the carriage with angry, mystified eyes. It was her place
Rhoda was sitting in! She forgot how the long drives her aunt loved used
to bore her. She felt that Rhoda Sampson had no right to be sitting there,
and it seemed to her positively cruel of her aunt and Tom to be so happy
when she was away.