She turned the handle of the bed-room door, with her eyes anxiously seeking the extent of the news in Honor’s face. And Honor went into the room. It was a full hour before she came out again. What had passed was between them and God. We may not trespass. But her face had lost and gained in that hour inside with Gregor’s mother, and her eyes were red with weeping. Maggie had been dusting within earshot of that door ever since it closed. She came now to meet Honor, and they went into the morning-room together. “Is he wounded, Miss Honor?” she asked anxiously. “He is dead, Maggie,--” and there was a sob in her voice as she said it. “And my brother also. They died together,” and Maggie burst into tears and nearly choked with the effort to do it quietly. “Oh, Miss Honor!--Dead!--and him so fine and strong and only just got there! Oh, Miss!--And the mistress? Is she--will it----” “I am going home now to get some things, and then I am coming back to stay with her for a time. She wishes it, and it will comfort her.” “And your poor mother too----” “It is very terrible for us all, but worst of all for Mrs MacLean. He was all she had. We must all do what we can to comfort her. They died splendidly, one helping the other. And Ray says it was instantaneous and so they did not suffer. Tell the others, Maggie, and don’t any of you give way--more than you can help--before Mrs MacLean.” “We’ll do our best, Miss Honor, but it’ll no be easy. It’s too awful,” and Honor passed out into the sleety morning. Mrs Dare quite understood and fully approved. Her old friend’s need was greater than her own. She gave Honor loving words for her right out of her heart, helped her to get ready the things she must take back with her, and promised to come over to see Mrs MacLean very shortly, when the freshness of their wounds should have had a little time to heal. Mr Dare’s grief was great when he came home that night to such news. But, like his wife, he had forecasted the possibility, and as they talked together of their boy, he said again, “Better so, dear, than growing up like some one knows--like that Nemmowe fellow for instance.... He did all he could and no man could do more.” “He would never have turned out like young Nemmowe,” said Mrs Dare confidently. “I don’t believe he would, seeing that he was your boy.” Lois came over while they were still quietly talking of it all, and she brought with her a suggestion that made for their comfort all round. In Honor’s absence Mr and Mrs Dare would find The Red House very empty, whereas for want of room at Oakdene they had reluctantly been compelled to refuse several fresh patients lately. So Lois’s idea was to transfer herself and Vic and Auntie Mitt, if she would come, to The Red House and so form a more complete family party there. They could then leave Oakdene entirely to their guests and the nursing staff, and could still do their own part in the way of providing and superintendence from next door.