THE LETTER
AS soon as Jack saw Frank's face she realized that something tragic had occurred.
She had come down to the train alone to meet him, but said nothing until they had walked away from the little crowd at the station into the gloom of the midwinter afternoon.
"It is Bryan," Frank then exclaimed without waiting to be asked. "I had word from the War Office today that he had been mortally wounded."
He put his arm about Jack to support her if she should turn faint, but this was not the way Jack received bad news.
She stopped for a moment, standing straight, however, with her head up and her shoulders braced.
"Are you sure, Frank, there can be no mistake?" she asked slowly.
Lord Kent shook his head.
"I am afraid not, dear. Bryan was leading a charge out of his trench when a shell hit him. His own men carried him back to a field hospital."
