x's name was amongst those of the party.

'It is only a report,' faltered Agatha.

'I know it is true,' said Clare steadily; and then she passed Agatha
by, and went up to her room.

She locked her door, and seated herself in an easy chair by her window
with the calmness of despair.

'He is dead, he is murdered, and he will never come back! I shall
never see him again, and my life is at an end with his!'

These thoughts burnt themselves into her brain.

She leant out of her window, and gazed over the sunny meadows, noticing
the smoke appearing from Patty's chimney, and a flock of swallows
flying through it. Then she watched the motions of a frisky colt in
the next field, and wondered if life seemed one long bright holiday to
him.

And then crushing her roses up in one hand, she flung them out of the
window.

'What are roses and sunshine to me now?' she thought passionately, her
whole soul swelling in protest at the black cloud enveloping her.
'What a bitter mockery this peaceful scenery is, when one remembers the
awful fate that has fallen on Hugh and me!'

And then bending her head in her arms, she laid them on the low
window-sill, and sobs began to come that shook her from head to foot.
Dry, tearless sobs they were at first, and she got up and paced her
room in hot rebellion.

'It is cruel--cruel of God! He does not care! He might have let me
have him back, when I was trying to be a true Christian! Such an awful
death! Oh, Hugh, Hugh! my heart is broken!'

She seized hold of a cabinet photo that stood on her dressing-table.
It was Captain Knox in his regimentals; and as his frank, fearless gaze
met hers, the flood of her tears was loosed, and they came thick and
fast, relieving her brain, but exhausting all her strength by their
vehemence. Luncheon time came, but no one could get her out of her
room, and Agatha wisely let her alone. At five o'clock she tried her
door again, and this time Clare unlocked it, and met her on the
threshold with tumbled hair, flushed face, and defiant eyes.

'What do you want? Can't you leave me alone?'

'Oh, Clare darling, how I wish I could comfort you! You will be ill if
you don't take any food. Will you not have a cup of tea?'

Agatha's eyes were red with crying, and her lips quivered as she spoke.
She laid her hand gently on Clare's arm, but it was shaken off, and
Clare turned her back upon her and walked to the window.

Then she burst forth passionately.