She did not speak. She stood quite still, looking at him as if she were trying to find something, but did not know where to look for it. He moved nearer to her, and took hold of her hand and drew her close to him, and she lay quietly in his arms.... There was a bird singing very clearly over their heads, and suddenly, while they stood there, silently consoling each other, two wood pigeons flew out of the highest tree, making a great beating of wings as they flew off across the fields. There was a robin in the hedge, turning its head this way and that, and regarding them with curiosity.... She stirred, and then withdrew herself from his arms. "We must go home," she said, "and tell mother!" 3 Mrs. Graham was in the garden, and she came to the gate as she saw them approaching, waving her hand and smiling at them. "Will you tell her, Quinny," Mary said, and she slackened her pace slightly and dropped behind him. He turned to look for her. "Come with me," he said. "I can't tell her ... alone!" There was a chilly fear over both of them. They felt that this blow would strike her down, that she would not survive it. Ninian was the beginning and the end of her life. If Ninian were gone, everything was gone. This house, the farm, the fields were without purpose if Ninian were not there to own them.... They went slowly forward, and as they approached they saw her smile vanish, and a puzzled look come in its place. She had waved her hand and smiled at them, but they had not waved back to her, they had not answered her smile ... and then she saw the telegram in Henry's hand. She made a quick movement, opening the gate and coming rapidly to them. "What is it?" she said, hoarsely. He could not think of anything to say.... "It's from the War Office, mother," Mary said. He stood ready to put his arms about her and support her.... "Give it to me," she said, holding out her hand for the telegram, and he passed it to her. They stood silently before her while she read it. Then Mary went close to her. "Mother!..." she said. Mrs. Graham did not make any answer to Mary. She still held the telegram in her hands, and gazed at it, reading it over and over.... "Mother, dear!" Mary reached up, and put her arms about her mother's neck. "Yes, Mary," she answered very calmly. But Mary could not say any more. She buried her head on her mother's shoulder, and the tears that she had been holding back, would not be held back any longer, and sobs burst from her that seemed as if they would choke her. "My dear," said Mrs. Graham, raising Mary's face to hers, "we must ... we must be brave!" She turned to Henry. "Take her in," she said, "and ... and comfort her!" He went to them, and put his arm about Mary, and led her to the house. "Won't you come in, too?" he said, turning to Mrs. Graham. "No, Henry," she answered. "Not yet. I want to be out here. I ... I want to be alone!"