"Oh dear!" she cried suddenly.
"What is it, aunt?" said Marion, with little interest.
"There has been a dreadful wreck of a yacht; and the owner of it, the great Duke of Shropshire, is drowned."
"Good gracious!" said Marion, somewhat roused from the contemplation of her own unhappiness.
The old woman read on, but did not say anything further.
Marion had raised her eyes in expectation of more news, and was now looking with awakened interest at her aunt.
Gradually Miss Traynor's face lengthened with astonishment. The mouth opened, the eyebrows went up, the eyes grew round, and the plump cheeks became almost hollow.
"What is it?" said Marion, now thoroughly alert.
At last Miss Traynor put down the paper, and looked speechlessly at her niece for awhile.
"Aunt, do tell me what it is!"