'Hildred,' I said, going up to her, 'I have seen Cuthbert's recruiting sergeant, and he thinks he may be alive.'
Hildred started, her hand fell, and the thread broke.
'He does not see why he should not come home some day,' I went on.
She got up, very pale.
'Cuthbert alive!' she said, dreamily. 'Where is he?'
'Oh Hildred, I don't know; I only said he might be living still.'
'Didn't you say he was coming?'
'No, no, it might be just possible.'
Hildred burst out crying.
'What's all this?' said Martha Clifford, coming up with a pail of water on her head. 'What's Hildred crying for?'