Dick's face clouded sympathetically.
And both the affianced began to see that to which the egotism of their happiness had blinded them.
They felt that long, long years had elapsed since these ageing ladies had experienced the delights which they were feeling.
"Trouble?
I'm sorry to hear that!" said Dick.
"Can you tell me the trains to Manchester?" asked Sophia.
"No," said Dick, quickly, "But I can drive you there quicker than any train, if it's urgent.
Where do you want to go to?"
"Deansgate," Sophia faltered.
"Look here," said Dick, "it's half-past three.
Put yourself in my hands; I'll guarantee at Deansgate you shall be before half-past five.
I'll look after you."
"But----"
"There isn't any 'but.'
I'm quite free for the afternoon and evening."
At first the suggestion seemed absurd, especially to Constance.
But really it was too tempting to be declined.
While Sophia made ready for the journey, Dick and Lily Holl and Constance conversed in low, solemn tones.
The pair were waiting to be enlightened as to the nature of the trouble; Constance, however, did not enlighten them.
How could Constance say to them:
"Sophia has a husband that she hasn't seen for thirty-six years, and he's dangerously ill, and they've telegraphed for her to go?"
Constance could not.
It did not even occur to Constance to order a cup of tea.
III
Dick Povey kept his word.
At a quarter-past five he drew up in front of No. 49, Deansgate, Manchester.
"There you are!" he said, not without pride.
"Now, we'll come back in about a couple of hours or so, just to take your orders, whatever they are."
He was very comforting, with his suggestion that in him Sophia had a sure support in the background.
Without many words Sophia went straight into the shop.
It looked like a jeweller's shop, and a shop for bargains generally.
Only the conventional sign over a side-entrance showed that at heart it was a pawnbroker's.
Mr. Till Boldero did a nice business in the Five Towns, and in other centres near Manchester, by selling silver-ware second-hand, or nominally second hand, to persons who wished to make presents to other persons or to themselves.
He would send anything by post on approval.
Occasionally he came to the Five Towns, and he had once, several years before, met Constance.
They had talked.
He was the son of a cousin of the late great and wealthy Boldero, sleeping partner in Birkinshaws, and Gerald's uncle.
It was from Constance that he had learnt of Sophia's return to Bursley.
Constance had often remarked to Sophia what a superior man Mr. Till Boldero was.
The shop was narrow and lofty.
It seemed like a menagerie for trapped silver-ware.
In glass cases right up to the dark ceiling silver vessels and instruments of all kinds lay confined.
The top of the counter was a glass prison containing dozens of gold watches, together with snuff-boxes, enamels, and other antiquities.
The front of the counter was also glazed, showing vases and large pieces of porcelain.
A few pictures in heavy gold frames were perched about.
There was a case of umbrellas with elaborate handles and rich tassels.
There were a couple of statuettes.
The counter, on the customers' side, ended in a glass screen on which were the words
'Private Office.'
On the seller's side the prospect was closed by a vast safe.