tinguished. All that
remains to me is to make the best of my poor remnant of
existence for the sake of my children.

"We will talk over plans when we meet. I hope to be in
England in about another month, perhaps sooner, and we will
consult together as to what is best to be done.

"I have no doubt it will be possible to find a good and
cheap preparatory school where Tony can be safely bestowed
for the present, and one of my sisters would probably take
my precious little Fay, if you find it inconvenient to have
her with you. A boy is always better at school as soon as
possible, and I have strong views as to the best methods of
education. I never for a moment forget my responsibilities
towards my children and the necessity for a father's
supreme authority.

"You may be sure that, in so far as you make it possible
for me to do so, I will fall in with your wishes regarding
them in every way.

"It will not be worth your while writing to me here, as my
plans are uncertain. I will try to give you notice of my
arrival, but may reach you before my next letter.

"Yours affectionately,

"HUGO TANCRED."

Still as a statue sat Jan. From the garden came the cheerful chirruping
of birds and constant, eager questioning of Earley by the children.
Earley's slow Gloucestershire speech rumbled on in muffled _obbligato_
to the higher, carrying, little voices.

The whirr of a sewing-machine came from the morning-room, now the
day-nursery, where Meg was busy with frocks for little Fay.

In a distant pantry somebody was clinking teacups. Jan shivered, though
the air from the open window was only fresh, not cold. At that moment
she knew exactly how an animal feels when caught in a trap. Hugo
Tancred's letter was the trap, and she was in it. With the exception of
the lie about other letters--Jan was perfectly sure he had written no
other letters--and the stereotyped phrases about shattered lamps and the
wife who was "no more," the letter was one long menace--scarcely veiled.
That sentence, "in so far as you make it possible for me to do so, I
will fall in with your wishes regarding them in every way," simply meant
that if Jan was to keep the children she must let Hugo make ducks and
drakes of her money; and if he took her money, how could she do wha