The news from the front was not good. It did not bear discussion. The Germans were still pressing furiously on towards Paris. Their losses had been enormous and ours had been terribly heavy though slight in comparison with theirs. But life seemed the very last thing worth their consideration. So long as they won the bloody game nothing else mattered, and they were fouling the game with every tricky manœuvre and abominable brutality their twisted minds could contrive. It was a time indeed for anxious thought on the part of all who had any stake out there, and Mrs Dare’s heart ached with fears for Con. If he were still alive he must be somewhere in the hands of these pitiless savages, and according to the papers they spared none. They even seemed to go out of their way and beyond human nature in the pursuit of that gospel of frightfulness which the Kaiser openly preached. Her heart had been wrung over Belgium and Northern France. What chance had any man of coming alive out of such a welter of crashing deaths? At times her faith in the goodness of God and the ultimate triumph of Right seemed to her overborne by the high-piled horrors of the morning’s news. How--could--God--permit--such--doings? And when she was in that low state of spiritual health it was always a comfort to her to hear the Colonel’s cheerful voice at the door, and to set eyes on his grave but always confident face. Her husband was so sorely tried in these days that even she--helpless and almost hopeless as she felt herself at times--had to play the part of faithful helpmeet as best she might. The moratorium had indeed relieved him of the heaviest of the pressure for the time being, but his business was practically killed and the future weighed on him almost beyond bearing. To both of them the Colonel played cheerful Providence, and did his utmost to dissipate their clouds. “My dear Mrs Mother,” he would adjure her. “Have we not gone through just such times before----” “Never quite so dark--nor coming so close home to one.” “That has been your happy fortune. But to thousands of others they have come close home in just this same way. Always in the end we pull through;--ay, even when we’ve had less justification than we have now. If there’s a righteous God overlooking this matter--and you’re not going to tell me you doubt it----” “No, I’m not. But I’m sometimes sorely put to it when I think of it all,--the horrors--the hideous----” “Don’t think of them. Think of the way our lads are behaving out there. They’re simply grand. And the way they’re toeing the line here is just as fine. And the Colonies!--and Ireland! By Gad, ma’am, we’re living in noble times! And we’ll see grander times yet. We’re--going--to--win! Tough work first, maybe, but win we shall, as sure as God’s God.” And his faith in his country and in the Higher Powers never failed to cheer her into renewed hope. To John Dare he was equally helpful.