But I was surprised to find him so near me, and the contents of the letter were very perplexing.

My father entreated me to meet him on the river-side pathway, between Malsham station and this house.

He had been informed of my habits, he said, and that I was accustomed to walk there.

That was curious, when, so far as I knew, he had sever been near this place; but I hardly thought about the strangeness of it then.

He begged me so earnestly to see him; it was a matter of life or death, he said.