CHAPTER I. A DISPERSION 



'A telegram! Make haste and open it, Jane; they always make me so nervous! I believe that is the reason Reginald always _will_ telegraph when he is coming,' said Miss Adeline Mohun, a very pretty, well preserved, though delicate-looking lady of some age about forty, as her elder sister, brisk and lively and some years older, came into the room. 

'No, it is not Reggie. It is from Lily. Poor Lily! Jasper--- accident---Come.' 

'Poor dear Lily! Is it young Jasper or old Jasper, I wonder?' 

'If it were young Jasper she would have put Japs. I am afraid it is her husband. If so, she will be going off to him. I must catch the 11.20 train. Will you come, Ada?' 

'Oh no; I should be knocked up, and on your hands. The suspense is bad enough at home.' 

'If it is old Jasper, we shall see in the paper to-day. I will send it down to you from the station. Supposing it is Sir Jasper, and she wants to go out to him, we must take in some of the children.' 

'Oh! Dear little Primrose would be nice enough, but what should we do with that Halfpenny woman? If we had the other girls, I suppose they would be at school all day; but surely some might go to Beechcroft. And mind, Jane, I will not have you overtasking yourself! Do not take any of them without having Gillian to help you. That I stipulate.' 

Jane Mohun seemed as if she did not hear as these sentences were uttered at intervals, while she stood dashing off postcards at her davenport. Then she said, on her way to the door--- 
Who was sending postcards?
Who was on a davenport?
What was she doing?
What was nerve-racking?
Who opened it?
Does she have a sister?
Her name?
Is she younger?
About how old was she?
Was the telegram from Reginald?
Who was it from?
What happened?
Involving whom?
Who is supposed to assist Jane?
Where will the girls go if not to school?
What time is the train?
Who is Lily's husband?
What is his title?
What is halfpenny?
Who is nice?
Lily
Lily
Jane Mohun
Jane Mohun
dashing off postcards
dashing off postcards
a  telegram
 telegram
Jane
Jane
yes
 her elder sister
Miss Adeline Mohun
Miss Adeline Mohun
no
her elder
about forty
about forty
no
 from Lily
Lily
Lily
an accident
Jasper--- accident
Jasper
Jasper
Gillian
 Gillian
Beechcroft
Beechcroft
11.20
11.20
Jasper
 Jasper
Sir Jasper
Sir Jasper
a woman
 woman
Primrose
 Primrose