'raps he'll go away."

Jan made no answer.

Tony followed her through the swing door and down the passage to speak
to Hannah, who was much moved and excited when she heard Mr. Tancred had
arrived. Hannah was full of sympathy for the "poor young widower," and
though she could have wished that he had given them notice of his
coming, still, she supposed him to be so distracted with grief that he
forgot to do anything of the kind. She and Anne Chitt went there and
then to make up his bed, while Jan boiled the kettle and got him some
breakfast.

While she was doing this Meg and little Fay came round to the back to
look for Tony, whom they found making toast.

"Who's tum?" asked little Fay, while Jan rapidly explained the situation
to Meg.

"Your Daddie's come."

Little Fay looked rather vague. "What sort of a Daddie?" she asked.

"You take her to see him, Tony, and I'll finish the toast," said Jan,
taking the fork out of his hand.

When the children had gone Meg said slowly: "And Mr. Ledgard comes
to-morrow?"

"He can't. I must telegraph and put him off for a day or two. Hugo is
really ill."

"I shouldn't put him off long, if I were you."

Jan seized the tray: "I'll send a wire now, if you and the children will
take it down to the post-office for me."

"Why send it at all?" said Meg. "Let him come."

CHAPTER XXIII

TACTICS

It was a fortnight since Hugo Tancred arrived at Wren's End, and Jan had
twice put off Peter's visit.

During the first few days Hugo's temperature remained so high that she
grew thoroughly alarmed; and in spite of his protestations that he was
"quite used to it," she sent for the doctor. Happily the doctor in his
youth had been in the East and was able to reassure her. His opinion,
too, had more weight with Hugo on this account, and though he grumbled
he consented to do what the doctor advised. And at the end of a week
Hugo was able to come downstairs, looking very white and shaky. He lay
out in the garden in a deck-chair for most of the day and managed to eat
a good many of the nourishing dishes Hannah prepared for him.

It had been a hard time for Jan, as Hugo was not an invalid who excited
compassion in those who had to wait upon him. He took everything for
granted, was somewhat morose and exacting, and made no attempt to
control the extreme irritability that so often accompanies fever.

When the fever left him, however, his tone changed, and the second
stage, indicate