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A few moments later the door of the drawing-room opened, and a servant
appeared with a note, which she handed to Mr. Jerrold, saying:
"Sam Powley brought this from your sister. He says your father is very
bad."
Mr. Jerrold was not greatly surprised. It seemed to him he had expected
this, for the sobbing of the wind had sounded to him like his father's
voice calling to him in the storm. Taking the note from the girl, he
tore it open and read:
"DEAR BROTHER: On my return home I found our father much worse,
indeed, I have never seen him so bad, and he insists upon your
coming to him to-night, so I have sent Sam for you, with
instructions to call on his return for our clergyman, Mr. Sanford,
as he wishes particularly to see him. Come at once, and _come
alone_."
"HANNAH."
The words "come alone" were underscored, and Burton felt intuitively
that the secret he had long suspected and which had shadowed his
father's life, was at last coming to him unsought. He was sure of it,
and knew why Hannah had written "come alone.


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