'Oh, there's that stick. What can he want?' sighed one of a pair of dignified elderly ladies, in black silk, to the other, as in a quiet country-town street they saw themselves about to be accosted by a man of about forty, with the air of a managing clerk, who came up breathlessly, with a flush on his usually pale cheeks. 'Miss Lang; I beg pardon! May I be allowed a few words with Miss Marshall? I know it is unusual, but I have something unusual to tell her.' 'Nothing distressing, I hope, Mr. Morton, ' said one of the ladies, startled. 'Oh no, quite the reverse, ' he said, with a nervous laugh; 'in fact, I have unexpectedly come into a property!' 'Indeed!' with great astonishment, 'I congratulate you, ' as the colour mounted in his face, pleasant, honest, but with the subdued expression left by long years of patience in a subordinate position. 'May I ask-' began the other sister. 'I hardly understand it yet, ' was the answer; 'but I must go to town by the 5.10 train, and I should like her to hear it from myself.' 'Oh, certainly; it does you honour, Mr. Morton.