"Yes," her mother agreed. "I will tell Mrs Helmont of the telegram-- that it has hastened our going a little. They won't be surprised; they are so accustomed to comings and goings. It really is most fortunate, _most_ fortunate, that Mrs Hume should have thought of telegraphing. Lucky coincidences _do_ happen sometimes, you see." She was trying to speak cheerfully. Trouble affecting Imogen brought out the real unselfishness underlying the superficial frivolity. "Yes, they do," said Imogen, smiling in spite of herself. There was more truth in Mrs Wentworth's remark than Imogen was aware of. Coincidences do occur in real life more strangely, more fortunately, sometimes, than even in fiction. It had been specially fortunate for all concerned that it was Robin and no one else whom Beatrix ran up against in her fright, and Robin's being there at that moment was only thanks to his having driven round by Wood Court, where he had left some of his belongings, before his brother's hasty summons to London. Fortunate, too, had been Major Winchester's meeting with Florence on her return from Catborough, so that the two were able to lay their heads together as to warnings and explanations to Mrs Wentworth. And the kindliness and sympathy Florence extended to the mother as well as to the daughter met with its reward. Never before had Florence been able to feel to her so warmly as by the close of that--to some at least of the party--terribly trying evening. "There is real heroism in her," Florence could not help saying to Rex. "No one would have suspected what she must be feeling, to see her so cheerful and composed." The climax had come when Mrs Wentworth was bidding Major Winchester good-night; "and good-bye, probably," she added, "for we are leaving so early in the morning. But I must not forget to ask how Mrs Bertrand is," she went on. "Imogen called me back as I was coming down to dinner to remind me to ask you." "She is going on wonderfully well; there is every hope of a perfect cure," he replied. "Thank you and Miss Wentworth a thousand times. Yes, I think it is good-bye, not on account of your early start, but I am off before breakfast to-morrow for a shoot at Gorsage." "I shall be here, however," Robin had put in softly, "if I can be of the least use." "It is far more than I deserve. They are good, truly good women," said Rex, in reply to Florence's remark. And this, in her heart, his cousin endorsed. "Rex has been foolish--very foolish," she said to herself. "But he has done his best to put things straight. After all, poor child, she will outlive it. It seems to have left a mark on him, however. He looks ten years older than when he went away." Some one else was remarking this with satisfaction.