Part 38 (2/2)
He passed his hand over Eustace's brow, and found it cool enough
”But it's the truth, father,” Eustace said ”I thought I was dreae still I was kneeling at the ithabout hoood deal over the words--”when some one hit me on the shoulder with a stone, and I looked down and saw Bob”
”Impossible!” said Mr Orban ”You've had a delusion because you were thinking about ho so hard about Bob you fancied you saw his like that do happen so after the plantation; he couldn't by any earthly possibility be here”
Mr Orban spoke so certainly that Eustace's faith in his own reason almost wavered; but if vision it were, it had ily
”I don't think I could have seen it so clearly if it had only been ued aloud ”Besides, he spoke; he said quite clearly, 'Don't et hold of your father forthat you have seen ate, and want to speak to hi you is better luck than I expected'”
The words were branded on his memory by the shock he had received, and noas Mr Orban's turn to become white
”If it is so really,” he said in an odd, unsteady voice, ”he brings bad news So so bad has happened that he could not break it to me in a letter”
It flashed into Eustace's rave and queer--if Bob it really were, and no delusion! Suppose his father should go to the gate and find no one awaiting hio and see if he is there?” faltered the boy nervously
”I a at once,” said Mr Orban ”When you are dressed yourself, go down into the drawing-roo had happened” He opened the door into Mrs Orban's roohtly, ”There's a man just called to see ies to the old people, and ask them not to wait dinner forresponse, and he and Eustace left the room
The twins and the Dixon pair always asse-room with every one before dinner was served, and there they awaited the summons to dessert, as a rule with books, in dreary silence
When Eustace ca for dinner Mr
Orban was not yet in, and Mr Chase would not hear of beginning the meal without him
”His friend can't in conscience keep him late at such an hour,” he said ”Of course ait”
No one was very talkative It see shadoere creeping over the community before the bad news could even be dreamed of by any one except himself There was just the sort of deadly cal that comes before a thunderstorm
Nesta had curled herself up in a deep -seat, well out of sight Eustace guessed she hadshe was afraid to show her face He sat near the door into the great conservatory with a book, pretending to read Really he could do nothing but wonder what terrible thing could be going to happen next
Presently, just when Mr Chase was getting a little restless, and Mrs Orban began anxiously watching the door, Mr Orban ca so late,” he said in a voice that vibrated strangely; ”but I am afraid I must detain you still for a few minutes The fact is, a Queensland friend of mine has just turned up with--with some rather curious details about the wreck of the _Cora_ He thought it would pain us less to hear them by word of ood of hi surprised
”Won't he stay and dine with us, and then afterwards--”
”Oh, of course he ht!” cried Mrs Chase hospitably; ”and this evening we can talk things over quietly when the children have gone to bed”
”I think,” said Mr Orban, with a gravity that impressed every one deeply, ”my friend would rather have his interview at once He is anxious to get it over as soon as possible I have asked hiht ould talk there more quietly than here”
”Certainly,” said Mrs Chase, rising and leading the way to the boudoir, which opened off the drawing-room
Every one looked utterly bewildered, and Mr Chase just a little annoyed It was most unprecedented that dinner should be so delayed Eustace noticed his father whisper so to his uessed Mr Orban had told her who the visitor was