Hello.
Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,
Your go-to romantic podcast that guarantees you a calm and entertaining transition into a great night's sleep.
Come with me as we immerse ourselves in a romantic journey to a time long since forgotten.
But before we begin,
Let's take a moment to focus on where we are now.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.
Now close your eyes and feel yourself sink deeper into the support beneath you.
It is time to relax and fully let go.
There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.
Happy listening.
Chapter 36 is a very short one and may appear of no great importance in its place,
But it should be read notwithstanding as a sequel to the last and a key to one that will follow when its time arrives.
And so you're resolved to be my companion this morning.
My travels,
Said the doctor as Harry mainly joined him and Oliver at the breakfast table.
Why,
You're not in the same mind or intention to half hours together.
You'll tell me a different tale one of these days,
Said Harry,
Colouring without any perceptible reason.
I hope I may have a good cause to do so,
Replied Mr.
Lossburn,
Though I confess I don't think I shall.
But yesterday morning you'd made up your mind in a great hurry to stay here and to accompany your mother like a dutiful son to the seaside.
Before noon you announce you're going to do me the honour of accompanying me as far as I go on your road to London.
And at night you urge me with great mystery to start before the ladies are stirring,
The consequence of which is that young Oliver here is pinned down to his breakfast when he ought to be raging the meadows after botanical phenomena of all kinds.
Too bad,
Isn't it,
Oliver?
I should have been very sorry not to have been at home when you and Mr.
Mailey went away,
Sir,
Rejoined Oliver.
That's a fine fellow,
Said the doctor.
You shall come and see me when you return.
But to speak seriously,
Harry,
Has any communication from the great knobs produced this sudden anxiety on your part to be gone?
The great knobs,
Replied Harry,
Under which designation I presume you include my most stately uncle,
Have not communicated with me at all since I've been here,
Nor at this time of year is it likely anything would occur to render necessary my immediate attendance among them.
Well,
Said the doctor,
You are a queer fellow.
But of course they'll get you into Parliament in the election before Christmas,
And these sudden shiftings and changes are no bad preparation for political life.
There's something in that.
Good training's always desirable,
Whether the race be for place,
Cup or sweepstakes.
Harry Mailey looked as if he could follow up this short dialogue by one or two remarks that would have staggered the doctor not a little.
But he contented himself with saying,
We shall see,
And pursued the subject no further.
The post chaise drove up to the door shortly afterwards,
And Giles,
Coming in for the luggage,
The good doctor bustled out to see it packed.
Oliver,
Said Harry Mailey in a low voice,
Let me speak a word with you.
Oliver walked into the window recess to which Mr.
Mailey beckoned him,
Much surprised at the mixture of sadness and boisterous spirits which his whole behaviour displayed.
You can write now,
Said Harry,
Laying his hand upon his arm.
I hope so,
Sir,
Replied Oliver.
I shall not be home again,
Perhaps for some time.
I wish you'd write to me,
Saying I'm not at home.
Maybe once a fortnight,
Every alternate Monday,
To the General Post Office in London,
Will you?
Certainly,
Sir,
I shall be proud to do it,
Exclaimed Oliver,
Greatly delighted with the commission.
I should like to know how my mother and Miss Mailey are,
Said the young man.
And you can fill up a sheet by telling me the walks you take,
And what you talk about,
And whether she,
I mean,
They seem happy and quite well.
You understand me?
Oh,
Quite,
Sir,
Quite,
Replied Oliver.
I'd rather you did not mention it to them,
Said Harry,
Hurrying over his words,
Because it might make my mother anxious to write to me oftener,
And it's a trouble and worry to her.
So let it be a secret between you and me,
And mind you tell me everything.
I depend upon you.
Oliver was quite elated and honoured by this sense of his importance,
And he faithfully promised to be secret and explicit in his communications.
Mr.
Mailey took leave of him with many assurances of his regard and protection.
The doctor was in the chaise,
Giles,
Who it had been arranged should be left behind,
Held the door open in his hand,
And the women's servants were in the garden looking on.
Harry cast one slight glance at the lattice window and jumped into the carriage.
Drive on,
He cried,
Hard,
Fast,
Full gallop,
Nothing short of flying or keep pace with me today.
Hello,
Cried the doctor,
Letting down the front glass in a great hurry,
And shouting to the postillion,
Something very short of flying or keep pace with me,
Do you hear?
Jingling and clattering till distance rendered its noise inaudible,
And its rapid progress only perceptible to the eye.
The vehicle wound its way along the road,
Almost hidden in a cloud of dust,
Now wholly disappearing,
And now becoming visible again as intervening objects or the intricacies of the way permitted.
Jingling and clattering It was not until even the dusty cloud was no longer to be seen that the gazers dispersed.
And there was one looker on who remained with eyes fixed upon the spot where the carriage had disappeared,
Long after it was many miles away.
For behind the white curtain which had shrouded her from view,
When Harry raised his eyes towards the window,
Sat Rose herself.
He seems in high spirits and happy,
She said at length.
I feared for a time he might be otherwise.
I am mistaken.
I'm very,
Very glad.
Tears are signs of gladness as well as grief,
But those which course down Rose's face as she sat pensively at the window,
Still gazing in the same direction,
Seemed to tell more of sorrow than of joy.
