"He has received some order, some distinguished order for bravery. There, there, read it! Isn't it splendid? I was afraid he was killed or hurt or something. I didn't expect this. Oh, isn't it glorious? But it is just like him."
Josiah Lethbridge rose from the table.
"Shall we go into the library for our coffee and cigars?" he asked. He seemed to be making an effort to be calm.
"We must tell Mary," said Mrs. Lethbridge.
"You must do nothing of the sort," said her husband. "When I said, once for all, that we would have nothing to do with that woman, I meant it. Will you come this way, Barcroft and Mr. Erskine? Oh yes, the ladies can come with us if they do not mind tobacco smoke."
A few minutes later we were all in the library, where, in spite of Mr. Lethbridge's chagrin, we were not able to suppress our desire to talk about Hugh and what he had done. It appeared by the document received that he had, by his coolness and bravery, not only saved the life of an officer, but that he had rendered such important service to his battalion that a possible disaster had been turned into a victory.
"Ah!" I said. "How I envy him!"
"Envy him! In what way?" asked Barcroft.
"Envy his being able to serve his country," was my reply. "How a man with health and strength can stay in England at a time like this I can't understand."
"Are you referring to me?" he asked. And I noticed there was an angry look in his eyes.