At that moment a servant entered and brought Mr. Lethbridge an official-looking document, which he opened eagerly. He read it through twice, and then calmly and deliberately folded it again and placed it in the envelope.
"What is it about, Josiah?" asked Mrs. Lethbridge.
I thought he looked pleased, but I could not tell. He did not answer his wife's question.
"Is it about Hugh?" she asked.
Still he was silent.
"Josiah, Josiah, tell me, is he wounded, killed?"
"No. I—I suppose it is all the other way. It is nothing to me. There, you can read it if you like."
With trembling hands Mrs. Lethbridge took the letter and read it.
"Oh, Hugh, my darling boy," she sobbed.
"What is it, mother?" asked Isabella. "What has he done?"