'It contains very strange news,' she said slowly 'wonderfully strange, and I don't quite know how to tell it to you.'
Both Clare and Elfie dropped their work instantly, for they saw her agitation.
'Not bad news?' exclaimed Clare.
'No; very, very good news for you, Clare.'
Clare's cheeks grew pale at once.
'Oh, Agatha, speak out; don't keep us in suspense any longer!'
And then Agatha said as quietly as she could:
'It is about Hugh, Clare. Can you bear it? He was never killed, after all, and this is to say that he is coming home.'
Clare did not faint, nor call out, nor did she utter a word. Only the quick blood rushing to her cheeks, and then as quickly ebbing from them, showed that she was moved at all. Motionless she sat, staring out of the window as if she were in a dream. Then at last she spoke.
'Oh, Agatha, I shall never forgive you if it is not true!'