"So should I" said Bench with a broad grin and so saying the two men walked out arm in arm. Outside they parted and Johnson took the first train for Margate and whilst waiting at the station a telegram was brought to him by dirty old Nan. Tearing it open he found it was from Mayfield saying Mr. Earlsdown was dying and he was wanted at once. "Oh lor!" ejaculated the butler making a rush for the ticket office. Johnson did not arrive at Mayfield till 4.0 o'clock, then he instantly made his way to Mr. Earlsdown's bedroom. All the servants in the household were standing round the bed and on it lay the unconscious figure of Mr. Earlsdown. "What is it?" cried Johnson pushing his way through the crowd. "Appoplexy" answered Susan the housemaid holding her apron to her streaming eyes "the poor dear master was so excited thinking about Miss Monton and then all of a sudden he received a note telling of the engagement of Mr. Albert Morris with Miss Saunders and then that sent him off because he always wanted Mr. Albert to marry Miss Monton, and when Mary went into the drawing room, there he was in a fit." Just then the door opened and in walked Doctor Mason. The result of his visit will be seen later on. CHAPTER 12 SYLVIA'S RETURN It was a beautiful morning about 3 or 4 days after our hero and heroine's arrival at Margate. Leslie was just finishing his coffee and toast and Sylvia was sitting near the window glancing over the morning paper. Suddenly her rosy face turned deadly pale and the paper nearly dropped from her trembling fingers. "What is is dearest?" asked Leslie placing his arm around her waist and kissing her pallid forehead "has anything in the paper shaken your nerves?" "Oh Leslie Leslie" shrieked Sylvia falling into his arms "read this and be satisfied that my nerves _are_ shaken." Leslie siezed the paper and read as follows: "Mayfield Sussex. Last Tuesday Mr. Richard George Earlsdown of Yellowflower Hall was siezed with appoplexy. On that same day he had prevented his neice from marrying a certain gentleman of the neighbourhood and _she_ has run away with her intended, viz Mr. Leslie Alexander Woodcock. Mr. Earlsdown is now repenting that his consent was not given to his heartless niece and that if she comes back before he dies, married or unmarried, she will receive his love and forgiveness for ever; he is now in a dying state and we fear that unless his niece soon returns he will decidedly expire." "Shall you go home" asked Leslie quietly. "Yes yes" exclaimed Sylvia "Oh Leslie help me to pack, I feel too weak." The trunks were soon packed and the heart broken couple were on their way to Mayfield. Arriving at the Hall Sylvia flew up to her uncle's room and throwing herself on the floor shook the room with ear piercing sobs. "Who is crying?" presently asked Mr. Earlsdown.