Mrs. Hazard shook her head.
“Poor Jack! What will he say when we tell him?” said Annie. “It will be such a shock to him. He is so hopeful. He told me only this morning that as long as we had next month’s rent in hand the future didn’t worry him. He’d see we got along somehow. Isn’t he just the best and dearest brother in the world?”
“I dread the agent’s visit, for he will surely be here to-day. He is always so prompt. What shall I say to him?”
“I don’t know, mother.”
The crisis was too much for them, and mother and daughter wept silently together.
At that moment there came a sharp rap on the door.
Mrs. Hazard started, hastily wiped her eyes, and with a nervous glance at her daughter, answered the summons.
Mr. Grab, the agent for the premises, walked brusquely into the room.
“Good afternoon, madam. I presume you have been expecting me?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Mrs. Hazard, faintly.