Life at Coome-Raven went on as usual in a round of pleasant distractions.  Concerts, dances, and private theatricals, in which Magdalen cut a great figure, winning even the praise of the professional manager, who begged her to call on him if ever she should require a real engagement, passed the weeks rapidly by.

To Magdalen also, the return of Frank Clare, the son of a very old friend of Mr. Vanstone’s, provided an interesting interlude.  As his father put it, “Frank had turned up at home again like a bad penny, and was now lurking after the manner of louts.”  Though Mr. Clare’s estimate of his son was frankly truthful, Magdalen loved him with all the passionate warmth of her nature, and when Frank, in order to escape being sent to a business appointment in China, proposed marriage to her, she accepted him joyfully.  She urged her father to consent to their immediate union.

“I must consult Frank’s father, of course,” he said, in conclusion.  “We must not forget that Mr. Clare’s consent is still wanting to settle this matter.  And as we don’t know what difficulties he may raise, the sooner I see him the better.”

In a state of obvious dejection, he walked over to the house which Mr. Clare occupied.  When, after some hours, he returned once more to Coome-Raven, he informed his daughter that Frank was to have another year’s trial in London.  If he proved himself capable, he should be rewarded at the end of that time with Magdalen’s hand.

Both the girl and Frank were delighted, but Mr. Vanstone did not reflect their good spirits.  He wired to his lawyer, Mr. Pendril, to come down from town at once to Coome-Raven.  So anxious was he to see his lawyer that he drove over to the local station and took the train to the neighbouring junction where Mr. Pendril would have to change.

Hours went by, and he did not return.  As the evening closed down a message was brought to Miss Garth that a man wished to speak to her.  She hurried out, and found herself face to face with a porter from the junction, who explained that there had been an accident to the down train at 1.50.

“God help us!” exclaimed the governess.  “The train Mr. Vanstone travelled by?”

“The same.  There are seven passengers badly hurt, and two------”

The next word failed on his lips; he raised his hand in the dead silence.  With eyes that opened wide in horror he pointed over Miss Garth’s shoulder.  She turned to see her mistress standing on the threshold with staring, vacant eyes.  With a dreadful stillness in her voice, she repeated the man’s last words, “Seven passengers badly hurt, and two------”

Then she sank swooning into Miss Garth’s arms.

From the shock of her husband’s death, Mrs. Vanstone never recovered.

Heartbroken by the death of their parents, Norah and Magdalen had yet to learn the full extent of the tragedy.  That was first made clear to Miss Garth by the lawyer.