How the words haunted him. Every time the wind blew he had heard them, and----
He started to his feet. "Well, why not? I have nothing to do to-morrow, and I can get there in a couple of hours."
The next morning he eagerly made his way to Victoria Station.
The porter touched his cap and looked at Dick curiously.
"Good morning, Wheelright. You are here still?"
"Yes, sir. They took the other chap, and left no one in his place, so to speak. So me and the stationmaster have had to do everything. I was sort of superannuated, so to speak, when you was 'ere, so I had to take on my old job when Ritter went. However, I'd 'ear that he'll soon be back."
"And a good job, too. Not but what me and the stationmaster have carried on, so to speak, and I'm as good a man as ever I was."
Dick remembered old Wheelright well. He did odd jobs at the station during his short stay at Wendover Park, and was known among the people in the neighbourhood as "Old So-to-speak." He was also noted as an inveterate gossip.
"Comin' down to live 'ere again, so to speak?" he queried, looking at Dick curiously.
"No," replied Dick. "Just paying a short visit. I shall be returning by the 4.20 at the latest."
Wheelright shuffled on at Dick's side. He was much tempted to ask him further questions, but seemed afraid.
"You don't know where--where Squire Riggleton is, I suppose, sir?
"I was wondering, that's all. There's been a good deal of talk about him, so to speak. Some say he was took for the army just the same as if he hadn't sixpence. I have heard he was took prisoner by the Germans, too. But some people _will_ talk. Have you heard 'bout his being killed, sir?"
"Ah." He looked at Dick questioningly, and then ventured further. "He didn't do hisself much credit as a squire," he added.
"No, there was nice carryings on, so I've heard. But then some people will talk. However, there's no doubt that Mrs. Lawson, who had her two daughters as servants there in your day, took them both away. It was no place for respectable Christians to live, she said."
Dick made no reply. He had just come by train, and was the only passenger who alighted. Old Wheelright immediately recognised him. He did not feel altogether at ease in listening to him while he discussed his cousin, but was so interested that he let him go on talking. The truth was that Dick did not know why he was there, except that he had obeyed the command he had heard when walking from King's Cross. As he stood there that day he was not sure whether he had heard a voice or whether it was only an impression. But the words haunted him, and he felt he could do no other than obey. Now he was here, however, he did not know where to go, or what to do. He felt sensitive about going to the house which he had thought was his, and asking for admission. The action would call up too many painful memories. And yet he did not like going back without once again seeing the home that had meant so much to him.