I may almost say none. But I--we have been somewhat disturbed by the
contents of a letter we have received."

"Bad news?" cried Geoffrey. "I'm so sorry! Is there anything I can do,
Miss Blyth? You will command me, of course; send telegrams or--"

"I--thank you! You are always most kind and considerate, Doctor
Strong. The fact is"--Miss Phoebe hesitated, casting about in her
mind for the best way of breaking the news,--"the fact is, my
brother is a widower."

"Very sad, I'm sure!" murmured Geoffrey Strong. "Was it sudden?
these shocks are terribly trying. How did she--"

"Oh--no! you misapprehend me, Doctor Strong. Not sudden, nor--nor
what you would call recent. It is some years since Nathaniel's wife
died."

"Old gentleman going to pass away himself?" said Geoffrey, but not
aloud; he was aware of his tendency to headlong plunges; it was
manifestly better to wait further explanations and not commit himself.

"My brother has an only daughter," Miss Phoebe went on, "a girl of
twenty. She has been at college (I strongly disapproved of her going,
but the child is headstrong), and has worked beyond her strength. She--
that is, her father, is anxious for her to come and pass a month or
two with us; he thinks the sea air will benefit her."

"No doubt it will!" said Geoffrey, still awaiting the catastrophe.
It was a great bore, of course, in fact a nuisance, but it couldn't