It has all happened so suddenly, and has been arranged in a rush.

You remember Dad mentioning a few weeks ago that Mr.Southern, the firm's representative in Naples, was very ill?
Well, Mr.Fenton has decided to send Dad to Italy to take his place, for a year at any rate, and perhaps longer.

We're to start in a fortnight." Such a stupendous announcement required a little realizing.

Vincent removed his hands from his pockets.
"You don't mean to say we're _all_ going ?" he inquired.

"Jemima! Leaving London fogs and toddling off to Italy?
Materkins, you take my breath away! How's the whole business to be fixed up so soon ?" "Quite easily.