"He said, dear, that he must go to India because he had lost a very large sum of money.  He said he would send you a telegram as soon as he had made arrangements, as there was no good troubling you before.  He thought it best you should know by telegram, as the sight of the telegram itself would slightly prepare you for the bad news.  But, my dear little Kitty, in some ways there is worse to follow, for your father cannot afford to pay my fees, and you must leave Cherry Court School at the end of this term."