Three times in one hour Jack came into the drawing-room and asked his
step-mother whether she had not yet had a letter from The Trellis House.
Now Jack Tosswill had always been reserved, absurdly sensitive to any
kind of ridicule. Yet now he scarcely made an effort to conceal his
unease and suspense. Indeed, the third time he had actually exclaimed,
"Janet! Are you concealing anything from me?" And she had answered,
honestly surprised, "I don't know what you mean, Jack. I've had no
communication from Mrs. Crofton of any kind. Are you sure she wrote
me a letter?" And he had answered in a wretched tone: "Quite sure."
And then, about five minutes before luncheon, and luncheon had to be a
very punctual meal at Old Place, for it was the one thing about which its
master was particular, Timmy came in with a letter in his hand, and
sidling up to his mother, observed with rather elaborate unconcern: "A
letter for you, Mum."
She looked at him quite straight. "Has this letter only just been left,
my dear?"
He answered rather hurriedly: "It came a little while ago, but I put it
in my pocket and forgot it."
Janet broke the seal, for the letter was sealed, and then she called out
to her son, who was making for the door: "Don't go away, Timmy.
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