Soon the bells stop. He knows that he is alone now, but he does not understand it. The sun is shining brightly, but he sits very cold in his chair. He shivers. He is very glad to see his wife coming to him through the open window. She is a dear old lady, and is dressed brightly, as becomes one who has been to a wedding. Her face beams to match her gown. She is really quite a happy woman again, for it is several years since any deep sorrow struck her; and that is a long time. No one, you know, understands the Colonel as she does, no one can soothe him and bring him out of his imaginings as she can. He hastens to her. He is no longer cold. That is her great reward for all she does for him. 'I have come back, John,' she says, smiling tranquilly on him. 'It hasn't seemed very long, has it?' 'No, not long, Ellen. Had you a nice walk?' She continues to smile, but she is watching him closely. 'I haven't been for a walk. Don't you remember where I told you I was going, John?' 'Yes, it was to a wedding.' Rather tremulously, 'You haven't forgotten whose wedding, have you?' 'Tell me, Ellen.' He is no longer troubled. He knows that Ellen will tell him. 'I have been seeing Barbara married, John.' 'Yes, it was Barbara's wedding. They wouldn't--Ellen, why wasn't I there?' Like one telling him amusing gossip, 'I thought you might be a little troubled if you went, John. Sometimes your mind--not often, but sometimes if you are agitated--and then you think you see--people who aren't here any longer. Oh dear, oh dear, help me with these bonnet strings.' 'Yes, I know. I'm all right when you are with me, Ellen. Funny, isn't it?' She raises her shoulders in a laugh. 'It _is_ funny, John. I ran back to you, John. I was thinking of you all the time--even more than of Billy boy.' The Colonel is very gay. 'Tell me all about it, Ellen. Did Billy boy lose the ring? We always said he would lose the ring.' She looks straight into his eyes. 'You have forgotten again, John. Barbara isn't married to Billy boy.' He draws himself up. 'Not marry Billy! I'll see about that.' She presses him into his chair. 'Sit down, dear, and I'll tell you something again. It is nothing to trouble you, because your soldiering is done, John; and greatly done. My dear, there is war again, and our old land is in it. Such a war as my soldier never knew.' He rises. He is a stern old man. 'A war! That's it, is it? So now I know! Why wasn't I told? Why haven't I my marching orders? I'm not too old yet.' 'Yes, John, you are too old, and all you can do now is to sit here and--and take care of me. You knew all about it quite clearly this morning. We stood together upstairs by the window listening to the aircraft guns.' 'I remember! I thought it was a thunderstorm, Dering told me he heard nothing.' 'Dering?' 'Our gardener, you know.' His voice becomes husky. 'Haven't I been talking with him, Ellen?' 'It is a long time since we had a gardener, John.'