"No. But Curtis went, and—"
"Are they ordered of? O I'm sorry! Mrs. Curtis is so jolly—like a boy almost. I shall miss them ever so much. Are they really going? What a bother!"
"Yes."
"Anybody else?"
"Yes."
Denham's grave eyes met Roy's, with an expression which somehow sent Roy's heart down and down into his very shoes. The boy sat and stared—aghast and wordless.
"I want you to know beforehand, not to be taken by surprise. For your mother's sake you must bear it bravely."
Roy had grown pale, and his gaze spoke of dismay and incredulity.
"But you don't mean—you! Not you!"
"Yes."