If she let the precious minutes slip away, there might be another beating in store for her at the drain: her father was not of an indulgent disposition when his children were late in bringing his beer.

On the point of hurrying away, without a word of farewell, she remembered the laws of politeness as taught at the infant school--and dropped her little curtsey--and said, "Thank you, sir." That bitter sense of injury was still in Alban's mind as he looked after her.

"What a pity she should grow up to be a woman!" he said to himself.
The adventure of the broken jug had delayed his return to his lodgings by more than half an hour.

When he reached the road once more, the cheap up-train from the North had stopped at the station.

He heard the ringing of the bell as it resumed the journey to London.
One of the passengers (judging by the handbag that she carried) had not stopped at the village.
As she advanced toward him along the road, he remarked that she was a small wiry active woman--dressed in bright colors, combined with a deplorable want of taste.