grown pink, then white again, whiter than usual, as
she rapidly ran through her own letter.

'Yes,' she said at last, 'it's--no, it's not _quite_ so good as that.
Mamma's coming first: she'll be here in the spring; but papa's not
coming for some months later. He's got to go somewhere for some kind of
inspection, where mamma couldn't go with him, and after that, he's got
six months' leave, which may or may not--I don't quite understand.
Listen, Francie: "During this leave your father will have time to decide
as to the future. It is possible he may have the offer of an appointment
in England, which would obviate the necessity of our returning to India.
But even if he has this chance, there are fors and againsts to consider:
the appointment is not in some ways a very desirable one; it would
oblige us to live for some, perhaps for several years in a large
manufacturing town in the north of England, and it would be very hard
work for your father. Still, we might--we _should_ be all together."'

Frances heaved a deep sigh of intense longing.

'Oh yes,' she said, 'that would be _everything_.'

'No, I don't see that it would be,' said Jacinth. 'I should _hate_
living in a place like that; and then think of the hard work for papa.
When he does come home I want him to be quite his own master, and,
and--to be rather grand, you know. I should not mind his having an
appointment in London, or some county thing that wouldn't give him much
to do, about here perhaps. But to go and slave in some horrid dirty
place where there would be no one we could speak to; that would be a
come-down after the position he has had in India.'

'Oh Jass,' said Frances, 'don't let us spoil this beautiful news by
thinking of anything disagreeable. Papa must know best, far better than
we can. Do go on reading the letter. Mamma says I'm to ask you
everything.'

Jacinth's eyes returned to the sheets in her hand. Her face cleared a
little.

'There's something else,' she said. 'Oh, I should like that _far_
better. Listen, Frances: "Your father has also the certainty of a
good--as to position and agreeableness--appointment in London; but the
pay would be much, much less, so he is not taking this into
consideration. So the chances are that we may have to return to India
after his leave is over, and be joined by you, dear Jass, a year later;
though at worst I hope we shall be settled in England before my little
Francie would be ready to come out. But I don