hath sent me to say your man is took very sick of an ague, and 'twill
not be possible for you to continue your journey to-day."

"How? Was ever anything so unfortunate!" cried Mrs Jane. "Is he
really very bad?"

"My master thinks, madam, he is not the least fit for a journey."

Mrs Jane lay down again, with an exclamation of dismay.

"I do hope the young man is not weakly," she said. "'Tis most annoying.
I reckoned, entirely, on continuing my journey to-day. Well, there is
no help, I suppose, though this news is welcome but as water into a
ship. We must make a virtue of necessity. Come, Jenny, we'll take
another nap. May as well have what comfort we can."

And, turning round, Mrs Jane went off to sleep again.

For three days Mr Norton reported Jackson quite too poorly to ride; on
the fourth he was a little better, and by the evening of the following
Sunday it was thought Mrs Jane might venture to resume her journey the
next day.

They were up early the next morning, and as Jenny followed her mistress
into the hall, Mrs Norton being with them, Pope and Jackson came in
from the opposite door. Jackson at once came forward to meet them, and
for an instant Jenny was reminded of Millicent's complaint, for he
seemed just on the point of shaking hands with the ladies. Suddenly he
drew back, took off his hat, and with a low bow informed Mrs Jane that
he was ready to do her service.

The departure was fixed to take place after dinner; but before that meal
was served, Mrs Norton was seized with sudden and serious illness.
Mrs Jane showed great concern for her cousin, seeming to Jenny's eyes
much more distressed than she had been for the previous postponement of
her journey. While everything was in confusion, a cavalcade of visitors
unexpectedly arrived, and made the confusion still greater. Mrs Jane
arranged to stay for some days longer, and act as hostess in Mrs
Norton's place.

As the party sat that night at supper, a traveller's horn sounded at the
gate, and Pope, having gone to receive the new arrival, returned with a
letter, which he gave to Mrs Jane.

"Dear heart!" she exclaimed in surprise, "what have we now here? This
is from my mother."

"Pray you open it quickly, cousin," replied Mr Norton. "I trust it is
no ill news."

Mrs Jane's reply was to bury her face in her handkerchief. She seemed
scarcely able to speak; but Mr Norton, to whom she passed the letter,
informed the company that it cont