"Perhaps he thought it would supprise you more if he rung," replied Gladys.
"Ah perhaps so" responded Helen giving a last touch to the pink rose-buds which drooped prettily over the china vases.
At that moment Marshland entered the room with a frightened look on her face.
Coming up she handed a telegram to Helen "its given me such a turn miss" she explained "them telegrams always seem to carry bad news."
Helens face grew pale and she hastily opened the envelope.
The moment her eyes rested on the words, she uttered a cry of anguish and flung the telegram away from her. "Oh I know its father" she cried.
"Hush hush miss" said Marshland soothingly and picking up the telegram she too read the fatel words. The telegram ran as follows:
Come at once, a terrible thing has happened. Sheene.
Marshland's honest face grew ashy as she read the words, but she tried to control her feelings for Helens sake.
"Well miss it is a terrible thing" she said "but we can but hope for the best, what train will you go by miss."