Part 25 (1/2)

Sir George shook his head. ”It will not be, Thomas; I shall not long keep you out of Ashlydyat. Mind!” he added, turning upon Thomas with surprising energy, ”I _will_ go back before Christmas to Prior's Ash.

The last Christmas that I see shall be spent with my children.”

”Yes, indeed, I think you should come back to us,” warmly acquiesced Thomas.

”Therefore, if you find, when Christmas is close upon us, that I am not amongst you, that you hear no tidings of my coming amongst you, you come off at once and fetch me. Do you hear, Thomas? I enjoin it upon you now with a father's authority; do not forget it, or disobey it. My lady fears the fever, and would keep me here: but I must be at Prior's Ash.”

”I will certainly obey you, my father,” replied Thomas G.o.dolphin.

Telegraphic despatches seemed to be the order of the day with Thomas G.o.dolphin. They were all sitting together that evening, Sir George having come downstairs, when a servant called Thomas out of the room. A telegraphic message had arrived for him at the station, and a man had brought it over. A conviction of what it contained flashed over Thomas G.o.dolphin's heart as he opened it--the death of Sarah Anne Grame.

From Lady Sarah it proved to be. Not a much more satisfactory message than had been Lady G.o.dolphin's; for if hers had not been explanatory, this was incoherent.

”The breath has just gone out of my dear child's body. I will write by next post. She died at four o'clock. How shall we all bear it?”

Thomas returned to the room; his mind full. In the midst of his sorrow and regret for Sarah Anne, his compa.s.sion for Lady Sarah--and he did feel all that with true sympathy--intruded the thought of his own marriage. It must be postponed now.

”What did Andrew want with you?” asked Sir George, when he entered.

”A telegraphic message had come for me from Prior's Ash.”

”A business message?”

”No, sir. It is from Lady Sarah.”

By the tone of his voice, by the falling of his countenance, they could read instinctively what had occurred. But they kept silence, all,--waiting for him to speak further.

”Poor Sarah Anne is gone. She died at four o'clock.”

”This will delay your plans, Thomas,” observed Sir George, after some minutes had been given to expressions of regret.

”It will, sir.”

The knight leaned over to his son, and spoke in a whisper, meant for his ear alone: ”I shall not be very long after her. I feel that I shall not.

You may yet take Ethel home at once to Ashlydyat.”

Very early indeed did they start in the morning, long before daybreak.

Prior's Ash they would reach, all things being well, at nine at night.

Margery was sent to attend them, a very dragon of a guardian, as particular as Miss G.o.dolphin herself--had a guardian been necessary.

A somewhat weary day; a long one, at any rate; but at last their train steamed into the station at Prior's Ash. It was striking nine. Mr.

Hastings was waiting for Maria, and Mrs. Verrall's carriage for Charlotte Pain. A few minutes were spent in collecting the luggage.

”Shall I give you a seat as far as the bank, Mr. G.o.dolphin?” inquired Charlotte, who must pa.s.s it on her way to Ashlydyat.

”Thank you, no. I shall just go up for a minute's call upon Lady Sarah Grame.”