tter--the telegram--I fear--"

He stopped, for Mrs Tipps had torn open the envelope, and stood gazing
at it with terrible anxiety depicted on her face.

"There is no cause for immediate fear, I believe," began Edwin, but Mrs
Tipps interrupted him by slowly reading the telegram.

"From Joseph Tipps, Langrye station, to Mrs Tipps, Eden Villa,
Clatterby. Dear Mother, Netta is not very well--nothing serious, I
hope--don't be alarmed--but you'd better come and nurse her. She is
comfortably put up in my lodgings."

Mrs Tipps grew deadly pale. Young Gurwood, knowing what the message
was, having seen it taken down while lounging at the station, had
judiciously placed himself pretty close to the widow. Observing her
shudder, he placed his strong arm behind her, and adroitly sinking down
on one knee received her on the other, very much after the manner in
which, while at school, he had been wont to act the part of second to
pugilistic companions.

Mrs Tipps recovered almost immediately, sprang up, and hurried into the
house, followed by Gurwood.

"You'll have time to catch the 6.30 train," he said, as Mrs Tipps
fluttered to a cupboard and brought out a black bottle.

"Thank you. Yes, I'll go by that. You shall escort me to it. Please
ring the bell."

The stout elderly female--Netta's nurse--answered.

"Come here, Durby," said the widow quickly; "I want you to take this
bottle of wine to a poor sick woman. I had intended to have gone
myself, but am called away suddenly and shan't be back to-night. You
shall hear from me to-morrow. Lock up the house and stay with the woman
to look after her, if need be--and now, Mr Gurwood."

They were gone beyond recall before Mrs Durby could recover herself.

"I never did see nothink like my poor missus," she muttered, "there
_must_ be somethink wrong in the 'ead. But she's a good soul."

With this comforting reflection Mrs Durby proceeded to obey her
"missus's" commands.

On reaching the station Mrs Tipps found that she had five minutes to
wait, so she thanked Gurwood for escorting her, bade him good-bye, and
was about to step into a third-class carriage when she observed Captain
Lee close beside her, with his daughter Emma, who, we may remark in
passing, was a tall, dark, beautiful girl, and the bosom friend of Netta
Tipps.

"Oh, there is Captain Lee. How fortunate," exclaimed Mrs Tipps, "he
will take care of me. Come, Mr Gurwood, I will introduce you to him
and h