have left town and sent for us in such a hurry. Can't you tell us now?
It's something horrid, of course! And it's horrid waiting for horrid
things."

Dreda put both elbows on the table, in flagrant disregard of schoolroom
rules, and leant her charming, eager face in the cup of her hands. She
might describe her state of mind as "horrid," but an appearance more
opposed to such a description it would be impossible to imagine. Dreda
had been hungry, and her hunger was satisfied; she had been cold and
tired, now she was warmed and refreshed; she talked vaguely of horrible
things, but nothing approaching real fear had as yet entered her heart.
Grown-ups made such a fuss about trifles. Probably it was something
quite silly and unimportant after all.

Mrs Saxon did not answer. She looked down at her hands and twisted the
rings on her fingers, the while her husband took upon himself the burden
of explanation.

"Yes, Dreda, we wish to speak out plainly. As far as possible we have
always taken our children into our confidence, and now we must all try
to strengthen each other, for a great change is before us. It must
affect us all... I have lost money--a great deal of money. I am no
longer a rich man. Your mother and I came down here to face the
situation quietly, and to think out our plans. We wished to be by
ourselves for a few days before saying anything to you."

"Oh-h. Is that it? Poor father! What a shame!"

"What a beastly fag! How did it happen, Pater?"

"Poor old father! Yes! I _quite_ understand."

They spoke together with impetuous warmth, Gurth, Hereward, and
Etheldreda, but, in spite of their words, none of them understood in the
least. Maud and Harold stared open-mouthed. Only Rowena turned white,
and pressed her lips nervously together.

"Thank you, dears. I knew you would sympathise, but our grief is on
your account more than on our own. If you can bear the change bravely,
our worst fears will be allayed. It will be a big change. To begin
with, I have let the town house. An offer came to take it furnished on
a lease, and I dared not refuse. The Meads will now be our settled
home."

Silence... One definite statement has more effect than a dozen vague
forebodings, and the young people sat stunned with dismay, while the
thoughts of each wandered away on a voyage of personal reflections.

"No town house! No season! Shut up here all the year round, just as I
was coming out, and