Tebrick was called away instantly to London and left this afternoon, and
I am staying to-night to put our affairs in order. We are shutting up
the house, and I must give you and Mrs. Brant a month's wages and ask
you to leave to-morrow morning at seven o'clock. We shall probably go
away to the Continent, and I do not know when we shall come back. Please
tell the others, and now get me my tea and bring it into my study on a
tray." Janet said nothing for she was a shy girl, particularly before
gentlemen, but when she entered the kitchen Mr. Tebrick heard a sudden
burst of conversation with many exclamations from the cook.

When she came back with his tea, Mr. Tebrick said: "I shall not require
you upstairs. Pack your own things and tell James to have the waggonette
ready for you by seven o'clock to-morrow morning to take you to the
station. I am busy now, but I will see you again before you go."

When she had gone Mr. Tebrick took the tray upstairs. For the first
moment he thought the room was empty, and his vixen got away, for he
could see no sign of her anywhere. But after a moment he saw something
stirring in a corner of the room, and then behold! she came forth
dragging her dressing-gown, into which she had somehow struggled.

This must surely have been a comical sight, but poor Mr. Tebrick was
altogether too distressed then or at any time afterwards to divert
himself at such ludicrous scenes. He only called to her softly:

"Silvia--Silvia. What do you do there?" And then in a moment saw for
himself what she would be at, and began once more to blame himself
heartily--because he had not guessed that his wife would not like to go
naked, notwithstanding the shape she was in. Nothing would satisfy
him then till he had clothed her suitably, bringing her dresses from the