"By telegraph," she answered; "and one of the porters ran up to our house to tell it, knowing Oliver and the girls went to Guild this morning and took return tickets. The station here is already besieged by a crowd. Poor papa is pushing his way through it." Mr. Lake caught up his hat, when at the same moment who should come in but Oliver Jupp. Mary seized upon him with a cry. "Now don't smother me," cried he to her. "First of all, we are all right; you see I am, and Rose and Louy are safe and well inside Coombe Dalton Station. My father sent me in to tell you; he said you were here; and he is gone home to reassure them." "But, Jupp, how did you get to Katterley?" questioned Mr. Lake. "I came on a stray engine. I thought they would all be in fits together at home, and I took the opportunity offered, of coming on to stop the alarm. The first person who laid hold of me at the station was the poor old governor, pretty nearly in a fit himself. It's an awful accident, though." "How was it?" "Are many hurt?" "Did the boiler really burst?" "If you all reiterate questions at me at once, how am I to answer? Very few are hurt, comparatively speaking. The engine went into something, a truck or trucks I believe, and there was a smash. The two first carriages, both third-class, are--nowhere, and the passengers I won't tell you about, Lake, before these two girls, for it would spoil their night's rest. The next carriage, a second-class, was damaged, and its inmates are bruised, but not much, I think." "And what of the rest of the train?" breathlessly inquired Clara. "Nothing. The carriages came to a standstill on the line, and we got out of them." "Are you sure there is no first-class carriage injured?" she continued. "Certain. So to speak, there has been no accident to the rest of the train, beyond the delay and fright." Mr. Lake looked at his wife and smiled. "So you would not have been one of the injured, Clary, had you been in the train." She shook her head. "We have not the full particulars yet. Oliver may be deceived." "It is exactly as I tell you, Mrs. Lake," said Oliver Jupp. "There is no further damage." "Are you going back to Coombe Dalton?" "Yes, as soon as I can. But I thought it well to come on and let you know the best and worst. Lake, will you go with me?" "Of course," he answered. The two young men went out together. Mary Jupp ran home, and Clara waited the return of her husband. It was long past midnight when he came in. They sat up talking over the accident; the details which he had learnt, and seen. Oliver Jupp had been quite correct in his limit of the damage. Mrs. Chester (taking up the suggested notion that Clara Lake had stayed away because it was Sunday) had sent a very pressing invitation for her and her husband to come on the following day, Monday, with the two elder Miss Jupps. Mr. Lake delivered it to her. "Will you go, Clara?" "Will _they_ go?" she rejoined. "Will they venture?" "Venture!"