"Do not anticipate the worst," he said, pleasantly. "To-morrow's news may be different."
She smiled faintly. "I am not a very good soldier, after all," she returned, with a little faltering in her tones.
"My darling, when our Captain calls us out to fight, he always gives us grace and strength. But we must never look away from him; that is part of the promise."
She hung up her hood, smoothed her hair, that had been blown about by the wind, and went in to supper. They all talked a little about Mr. Morrison, but it appeared to Kathie that they were wonderfully hopeful. Indeed, the news from Mr. Meredith was so very encouraging that it seemed to dim the force of the other.
Afterward Mr. Conover went down to the cottage. Freddy brought his solitaire-board to Kathie.
"I've forgotten how it is done," he said, "and I want you to show me. Let me take them out, and you just tell me when I go wrong."
It really seemed that Fred had a marvellous faculty for going wrong. Kathie felt very much as if she did not care to be bothered. She was restless and nervous, and wanted to curl herself up on Aunt Ruth's lounge and think a little.
"Greater love hath no man—" the words kept running through her mind. But the love began in little things, even the love which suffered at last upon the cross. So she roused herself to patience and interest.
Uncle Robert looked quite grave when he returned. The Morrisons had heard the tidings, and were very anxious.