CHAPTER XXV

He was duly at Transham station in time for the London train, and, after a minute consecrated to looking in the wrong direction, he saw his mother already on the platform with her bag, an air-cushion, and a beautifully neat roll.

'Travelling third!' he thought. 'Why will she do these things?'

Slightly flushed, she kissed Felix with an air of abstraction.

"How good of you to meet me, darling!"

Felix pointed in silence to the crowded carriage from which she had emerged. Frances Freeland looked a little rueful. "It would have been delightful," she said. "There was a dear baby there and, of course, I couldn't have the window down, so it WAS rather hot."

Felix, who could just see the dear baby, said dryly:

"So that's how you go about, is it? Have you had any lunch?"

Frances Freeland put her hand under his arm. "Now, don't fuss, darling! Here's sixpence for the porter. There's only one trunk--it's got a violet label. Do you know them? They're so useful. You see them at once. I must get you some."

"Let me take those things. You won't want this cushion. I'll let the air out."

"I'm afraid you won't be able, dear. It's quite the best screw I've ever come across--a splendid thing; I can't get it undone."

"Ah!" said Felix. "And now we may as well go out to the car!"

He was conscious of a slight stoppage in his mother's footsteps and rather a convulsive squeeze of her hand on his arm. Looking at her face, he discovered it occupied with a process whose secret he could not penetrate, a kind of disarray of her features, rapidly and severely checked, and capped with a resolute smile. They had already reached the station exit, where Stanley's car was snorting. Frances Freeland looked at it, then, mounting rather hastily, sat, compressing her lips.

1. what is his mother's name?
2. what station did he go to?
3. did she travel first class?
4. then?
5. what was he conscious of?
6. and?
7. could he let the air out of the cushion?
8. did he ask her about a meal?
9. what meal?
10. where was the train coming from?
11. how many things did he see mother with?
12. what were they?
13. was it cold in the train?
14. what was it?
15. why?
16. was there a reason for that?
17. what?
18. what color is the lable?
19. what is it on?
20. how much does she want to give the porter?

Numbered answers:
1. Frances Freeland
2. Transham station
3. no
4. third
5. a slight stoppage in his mother's footsteps
6. a convulsive squeeze of her hand on his arm
7. no
8. yes
9. lunch
10. London
11. Three
12. bag, an air-cushion, and a beautifully neat roll.
13. no
14. hot
15. she couldn't have the window down
16. yes
17. There was baby
18. violet
19. trunk
20. sixpence