“I have just come from ‘Littlecote.’ Mr. Shafto is gone—he died last night!”
CHAPTER II
WHAT HANNAH SAID
On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy. Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
“Sister, sister, come out!” she cried. “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
“Dead!” repeated Mitty, staring blankly at her relative. Then she cast aside her apron and hurried into the hall. “Let us all go into the dining-room,” she continued, leading the way. “What a shocking thing, Mrs. Billing!”—turning to her visitor. “Do tell us the particulars. I can hardly believe it! Why, I saw Mr. Shafto in Bricklands on Tuesday, and he looked as well as he ever did in his life.”
“That was the day he heard the news,” announced Mrs. Billing, selecting an arm-chair and casting off her feather boa.
“Bad news?” suggested Miss Jane.
“Very bad indeed—could not be worse. He heard he’d lost every penny he possessed in the wide world.”
“Great patience!” ejaculated Miss Tebbs; “you don’t say so; but how?”
“Well, you know he was always comfortably off; indeed, one might say rich.”