I was only going to the Army and Navy Stores for some stationery." Then the Colonel looked still more delighted.
"There, I was sure of it! My wife is in the tea-room at this very minute expecting me to join her.

I should have been punctual to the minute, only I came across Erskine of ours; he wants my advice about a mare he is thinking of buying, and he was so pressing that I felt I must send Catherine a message." "And I am to do the job for you?
All right: Barkis is willin'." And then they both laughed at the familiar words, for Colonel Godfrey loved and studied his Dickens as some men study their classics.
"Tell her to be at the entrance at a quarter to six, and I will be there.

Well, I must be off, Erskine will be waiting for me." And the Colonel saluted Malcolm and marched off with his head in the air, while more than one fashionable lounger turned round to look at the fine soldierly figure.
At this hour the refreshment-rooms at the Army and Navy Stores were generally crowded, and for two or three minutes Malcolm searched them vainly, before he discovered Mrs.Godfrey sitting alone at a table at the other end of the long room.
She gave an exclamation when she saw him.

"Life is full of surprises," she said with the bright, vivid smile that always welcomed her favourite--"Alick promised to join me here!" And Malcolm sat down beside her and gave her the Colonel's message.
Mrs.Godfrey was evidently well used to these messages, for she received it with becoming resignation.
"I have ten minutes to spare," she observed serenely, "so you had better order yourself some tea, and we can tell each other our news.

By the bye, how long have you been in town ?" And when Malcolm told her nearly a month, she seemed surprised.
"I made up my mind you were still at Staplegrove," she replied; "though, now I come to think of it, there has certainly been no mention of you in Elizabeth's last two letters.