"I have only just returned from abroad.
Will you tell me what you mean ?" With a barely-suppressed eagerness, and an unconcealed gladness, she told him of the appearance of the old gentleman a few minutes after Derrick's flight, and gave him the lawyer's message.
Derrick nodded once or twice.

"If I'd only known that!" he said in a low voice, "I should have come back at once; come back to tell you what I want to tell you now, to thank you.

Oh, but that's absurd! Of course, I can't thank you.

You know what you did for me, and you must know that I can't express my gratitude." "Don't say any more," said Celia almost inaudibly.

"I am glad that it is all right now: that you have no cause to fear--and that you've come back to England." "Are you ?" he said, with difficulty controlling his voice.