How much longer than it really is a long journey can seem to be, was fully
learnt by the unhappy Viviette that day. The changeful procession of
country seats past which she was dragged, the names and memories of their
owners, had no points of interest for her now. She reached Southampton
about midday, and drove straight to the docks.

On approaching the gates she was met by a crowd of people and vehicles
coming out--men, women, children, porters, police, cabs, and carts.

The Occidental had just sailed.

The adverse intelligence came upon her with such odds after her morning's
tension that she could scarcely crawl back to the cab which had brought
her. But this was not a time to succumb. As she had no luggage she
dismissed the man, and, without any real consciousness of what she was
doing, crept away and sat down on a pile of merchandise.

After long thinking her case assumed a more hopeful complexion. Much
might probably be done towards communicating with him in the time at her
command. The obvious step to this end, which she should have thought of
sooner, would be to go to his grandmother in Welland Bottom, and there
obtain his itinerary in detail--no doubt well known to Mrs. Martin.

There was no leisure for her to consider longer if she would be home again that
night; and returning to the railway she waited on a seat without eating
or drinking till a train was ready to take her back.