rote a few lines to
accompany it, and scribbled an address.

"See it is posted at once," he said; "I've addressed it to Miss Brown,
and told her to type it and to post it on to the _Review_."

"I'm sure I could start again," said Kate, "let me do it as usual."

But a slight eye trouble she had suffered from lately had made Hugh lock
his sister's machine for the time.

"Don't waste time talking," he said, "just send it to the post as it
is."

"Oh, very well," said Kate, "Larkin can take it with him. Now go and
shave _instantly_ and, remember--your _brown_ suit."

All was managed so well that Hugh had nearly ten minutes to spare after
lunch in which to smoke and luxuriate in the knowledge that all was well
with him, his bag properly packed, his cap in his pocket, his flask
filled, and money for the journey in the pocket of the suit on his back
instead of in the one dangling in his wardrobe as had occurred before
this, when Kate had not been there.

He looked at her gratefully. She was as good-tempered as ever; not in
the least flustered or put out.

"Jove, K," he said, "I should be a fool to marry. For real solid
satisfaction give me a sister."

"Why?" said Kate amusedly. "Do you think your wife wouldn't pack your
bag for you?"

He considered Bee for a moment in a wifely, packing attitude, then Dora.

"Not all wives," he said a little vaguely. "At all events they'd pout
and worry to know why I was going and what the horrid telegram was
about, and when was I coming back, and where was I going to stay--and so
on till the train was lost. And look at you--not a word!"

"Oh, I should have asked you fast enough--when you came back," said
Kate, "and that is the same thing."

"No, faith, it's not, Kate; I'd have had leisure to invent my own
account by that time," said Hugh.

"Very well," said Kate, "next time I shall pout."

Hugh struck a match.

"I can tell you now, as there's time. I felt I wasn't making money fast
enough by books for our old age, K, and I've been speculating a bit.
It's helped to worry me and keep me from work lately. But the shares are
rising and I'm going down to be on the spot."

Then the wagonette drove up and he seized his bag and his hat, and Kate
ran after him to the gate with his pipe.

When Miss Bibby heard from the children that he had gone away, she
sighed deeply. And at night when the little ones were all asleep, and
Anna, her face smeared with Pauline's sunburn cream, her ha