they _are_ up. I got a lovely
letter from Theo--that's partly why, perhaps." Her eyes softened at
the remembrance of that letter. "He'll be home again in less than a
fortnight."

"Yes; in less than a fortnight," Honor repeated, and wondered where
she should go when that time arrived. She had not yet found courage to
face the idea in detail.

Evelyn kept up an unbroken ripple of hilarity till the verandah was
reached, laughing as Honor had not heard her laugh since Theo had
left.

"You're 'fey,' child," she said, as she helped her out of the dandy.
"I shall have you in floods of tears before night."

"No, you won't; I don't feel as if anything _could_ happen to make me
cry to-day. Hullo! there's Major Wyndham's horse out there."

Honor started.

"What can he want over here so early? Come in quick and find out."

They hurried through the hall into the dining-room, Evelyn leading, a
swift premonition of evil killing the laughter on their lips.

Paul stood by the piano looking at Desmond's photograph; his arms
folded; his "February face" more eloquent than he knew.

"Good-morning, Mrs Desmond," he said; and his sympathetic hand-clasp
sent her mercurial spirits down to zero.

"What is it?" she asked, blanching visibly. "You have brought bad
news?"

Paul assented in silence.

"If it is very horrible--don't tell me--I won't hear it!" She held up
both hands, as if warding off a blow. But Honor, coming quickly
forward, put both arms round her.

"Hush, dear, hush!" she said soothingly. "That is nonsense. We _must_
know what has happened, at once."

"Let him tell _you_, then; it won't hurt you like it hurts me." And
disengaging herself, she went over to the verandah doorway, and stood
there, looking out into the sunshine; her back to the room; her small
hands clasped; every nerve strained to miss no word of what was
passing behind her.

Honor turned promptly on Paul, an anguish of suspense in her eyes.

"Is it--the worst?"

"No--no--not that," he reassured her hastily.

"Tell me everything, please."

"I only know bare facts; the news came by helio. It seems there was a
sharp hand-to-hand engagement. The Boy and some of his men were taken
by surprise. Just as Theo reached them Denvil was--killed!"

A stifled sound broke from Evelyn.

"And--Theo?" Honor's low voice seemed to come from very far away.

"Theo has been badly cut about. Four wounds. The most serious is a
bullet wound in his face--close to th