full
of possibilities. Dad was coming home, was even now on his way, and had
desired her to meet him on his arrival at Marseilles. It was
incredible, quite incredible in its startling unexpectedness. She
turned again to the wonderful paragraph, and read it over once more
slowly and carefully.

"And now, my darling, I have a piece of news, which I hope and believe
will be welcome to you. Certain business changes have taken place of
late, which you would not understand even if I tried to explain them,
but such as they are they set me free to return home at my own
convenience. I have been impatiently waiting this settlement of
affairs for some time back, as I have been most anxious to see you
after your long illness, and to satisfy myself that the best means are
being used to restore the full use of your foot.

"I have made inquiries here, and believe that a course of baths of the
German Spa B--- would probably put the final touch to what has already
been done. I propose, therefore, that you engage in good time a
trustworthy lady courier from an office in London, and travel in her
company to Marseilles, where I will meet you in the first week of
June, having previously spent a week or ten days in Italy with my old
friends the Nisbets, who return in the same boat.

"Come prepared for a summer abroad, and we can fit you up with any
extras that are needed before we start on our travels. After you have
finished your course of treatment and are, I trust, thoroughly
convalescent, we will have a tour through Switzerland, and settle down
at some mountain hotel, where the air will brace us up after our
sufferings, climatic and otherwise.

"For the future, I have as yet no definite plans, except that, of
course, you will not return to your present quarters. Perhaps we may
eventually find a house that suits us in the south of England, but I
can't face English winters after my long residence in this sunny land,
and you must make up your mind to humour a restless old Anglo-Indian
for the next few years to come. Perhaps by that time I may have
regained my old strength and nerve, which have sadly failed of late.
I will wire from Brindisi as to definite arrangements."

Sylvia let the letter drop on her lap, and stared before her with blank
eyes. Through the curtains could be seen a glimpse of the house
opposite, the blind at Bridgie's window drawn up at its usual ra