"I have had two telegrams," she told him. "Mr. Farley, I suppose, told Mrs. Lakeman that I was in London, and she has sent me this."
He took it from her and read:
"Come and stay with us here. Pitlochry—train leaves Euston to-morrow night at eight; meet you at Perth; ask Farley to see you off."
Mrs. Lakeman was always practical and full of detail. The other telegram was from Lena, and ran:
"Do come, little Margaret; we want you."
"What are you going to do?" asked Tom.
"I telegraphed back, 'Thank you very much, but quite impossible.'"
"Good! good!" but his voice was a little absent. He was becoming serious.
Miss Hunstan had written, but from a cheering point of view; for she, too, had once set out on her way through the world alone.
"I wish I'd been there to receive you," she said in her letter; "but when I come back you will be in your rooms above, and I in mine beneath. We must be friends and help each other."