Medlicott had made a
parody of Tennyson's "Merman," for Jock's benefit, on giving him up
to a Leukerbad doctor, who was to conduct his month's Kur. It was to
go into the "Traveller's Joy," a manuscript magazine, the "first
number of which was being concocted and illustrated amongst the
Leukerbad party, for the benefit of Babie and Sydney Evelyn. As a
foretaste, Johnny produced from the bag he still carried strapped on
his shoulder, a packet of acrostics addressed to Miss Barbara
Brownlow, and a smaller envelope for Janet.
"Is it the key?" asked Colonel Brownlow.
"Yes," said Janet, "the key of her davenport, and directions in which
drawer to find the letters you want. Do you like to have them at
once, Uncle Robert?"
"Thank you-—yes, for then I can go round and settle with that fellow
Martin, which I can't do without knowing exactly what passed between
him and your mother."
Janet went off, observing-—"I wonder whether that is a possibility;"
while Miss Ogilvie put in an anxious inquiry for Mrs. Brownlow's
health and spirits, and a good many more details were elicited than
Johnny had given at home. She had never broken down, and now that
she was hopeful, was, in spite of her fatigue, as bright and merry as
ever, and was contributing comic pictures to the "Traveller's Joy,"
while Lord Fordham did the sketches.
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