He placed the telegram in her hands, and lighted the gas that she might read it.
"Rebecca," he said, as the girl passed from the dining-room, "I can trust to you, not to say one word to alarm any of the young people until Miss Marston has given a reason for my absence. I am going to London to-night; Mr. Franklyn is ill."
"I wont say a word to any one, Mr. Henry, I promise you," she replied.
"What can have happened?" said Kate Marston when they were again alone.
"It is impossible to say," he replied, "but I must not delay a moment; break the news gently to my father and the children, while I put a few things together in a carpet bag."
"But, Henry, you have had no supper, and after such a day of excitement too; oh! I am very sorry, let me bring you a glass of wine."
"No, no," he said, going upstairs two steps at a time, "I can get something in London, but you may find Bradshaw if you will, Kate."
Henry Halford was back again to the hall ready for his departure almost as quickly as Kate with the time-table.
"You have plenty of time," she said, "there, is a train at 9.40, and if you miss that, another at 10.5."
"Oh, thank you; all right, I can easily catch the 9.40. Good-by, Kate, make the best of it till you hear from me."