HARK FORRARDI I59 



and nie,' said Reginald. ' I will be either abso- 

 lutely first, or nowhere. Now look here, Alfred, 

 I am off to Virginia again on chance.' 



' Don't do that, my lad ; didn't you read 

 Mary's postscript ? ' 



' Yes, I did, of course ; but she says Mrs. 

 Lancelot is thinking of sailing for England 

 very soon. That isn't good enough for me.' 



'Well, hang it all, wait for a few days 

 till I have had time for an answer to my 

 telegram.' 



' What telegram ? ' 



' I telegraphed to my sister, asking her to 

 wire the name of the ship by which they sail 

 and the date of her departure.' 



' All right, then, I will wait a few days. 

 But I w^on't wait long — I can't.' 



' You won't have to wait long, I am quite 

 sure of that. My sister would never have written 

 as she has unless she had been quite certain of 

 her ground. She knows that Lina Lancelot is 

 yours, and she is quite sure that she and her 

 mother are on the eve of their departure for 



