They had scarcely seated themselves at the supper-table, when a ring at the front gate startled every one, and presently the housemaid appeared with a pale face, and beckoned Henry Halford from the room. "Oh, please sir, it's a telegraph boy, and he's brought this and he's to wait for an answer." Henry closed the dining-room door as she spoke, and took the missive in his hand, feeling almost as alarmed as herself. It was still twilight out of doors, and the hall gas not being lit, Henry walked to the glass door entrance to read the telegram, dreading he scarcely knew what. He gave one hasty glance at the words, and read-- "Dr. Gordon, Guy's Hospital, to Mr. Henry Halford, Englefield Grange. "A gentleman, with the initials A. F. on his clothes, is here dangerously ill; has asked for you. Come at once." In a kind of bewilderment he looked round the hall, and saw the boy who waited for the answer. "There is no answer necessary, my boy," he said, "you need not wait." Then as the telegraph messenger sallied out at the still open door, Henry Halford turned hastily to the housemaid:-- "Go in quietly and tell Miss Marston she is wanted, Rebecca." The girl obeyed, and presently that lady appeared with a startled look on her face. "What is it, Henry?" she asked anxiously. "Something that must not be mentioned suddenly before my father or Arthur's children," he replied; "read that, Kate." He placed the telegram in her hands, and lighted the gas that she might read it. "Rebecca," he said, as the girl passed from the dining-room, "I can trust to you, not to say one word to alarm any of the young people until Miss Marston has given a reason for my absence. I am going to London to-night; Mr. Franklyn is ill." "I wont say a word to any one, Mr. Henry, I promise you," she replied. "What can have happened?" said Kate Marston when they were again alone. "It is impossible to say," he replied, "but I must not delay a moment; break the news gently to my father and the children, while I put a few things together in a carpet bag." "But, Henry, you have had no supper, and after such a day of excitement too; oh! I am very sorry, let me bring you a glass of wine." "No, no," he said, going upstairs two steps at a time, "I can get something in London, but you may find Bradshaw if you will, Kate." Henry Halford was back again to the hall ready for his departure almost as quickly as Kate with the time-table. "You have plenty of time," she said, "there, is a train at 9.40, and if you miss that, another at 10.5." "Oh, thank you; all right, I can easily catch the 9.40. Good-by, Kate, make the best of it till you hear from me." And so ended at Kilburn the Sunday on which Henry Halford entered upon his duties as a clergyman. CHAPTER XXXII. AT GUY'S HOSPITAL.