"I was obliged to postpone the original date," continued his
correspondent, "but I have quite fixed now that the bazaar
shall be held at our new lovely place on the 24th. You, I
know, will not disappoint me. You will be sure to be
present. I hope to clear a large sum for the Home for
Incurables at Watleigh. Have you heard how badly that poor
dear charity needs funds just now? If you hesitate for a
moment to come and help, just cast a thought on the poor
sufferers there, the children, who will never know the
blessing of strength again. Think what it is to lighten the
burden of their last days, and do not hesitate to lend your
hand to so worthy a work. I have advertised you in the
papers as our principal supporter and patron, and the sooner
we see you at Silverbel the better.
"With kind regards, I remain,
"Yours sincerely,
"MILDRED OGILVIE.
"P.S.--By the way, have you heard that our dear little Sibyl
has met with rather a nasty accident? She fell off that pony
you gave her. I must be frank, Lord Grayleigh, and say that
I never did approve of the child's riding, particularly in
her father's absence. She had a very bad tumble, and hurt
her back, and has since been confined to her couch. I have
had the best advice, and the doctors have been very silly
and gloomy in their reports. Now, for my part, I have not
the slightest faith in doctors, they are just as often
proved wrong as right. The child is getting much better, but
she is still, of course, confined to her bed. She would send
you her love if she knew I was writing."
Lord Grayleigh let this letter drop on to the table beside him. He sat
quite still for a moment, then he lit a cigarette and began to pace
the room. After a pause he took up Mrs. Ogilvie's letter and re-read
the postscript.
After having read it a second time he rang his bell sharply. A servant
appeared.
"I am going to town by the next train; have the trap round," was
Grayleigh's direction.
He did go to town by the next train, his children seeing him off.
"Where are you going, father?" called out Freda. "You promised you
would take us for a long, long drive this afternoon. Oh, this is
disappointing. Are you coming back at all to-night?"
"I don't think so, Freda. By the way, have you heard that your little
friend Sibyl has met with an accident?"
"Has she?" replied Freda. "I am very sorry. I like Sibyl very much."
"So do I!" said Gus, coming up, "she's the best sort of girl I ever
came across, not like an ordinary girl--quite plucky, you know. What
sort of accident did she have, father?"
"I don't know; I am going to see. I am afraid it has something to do
with the pony I gave her. Well, good-by, youngsters; if I don't return
by the last train to-night, I'll be back early to-morrow, and we can
have our drive then."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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