'So you've heard?—you poor thing!' said the elder woman smiling, as she laid a friendly hand on the girl's shoulder.
Nelly looked up—and drew a long deep breath.
'He's all right, and the battalion's going to have three weeks' rest—behind the lines.'
Her dark eyes shone. Hester Martin sat down on the turf beside her.
'Capital! When did you hear last?'
'Just the day before the "push." Of course he couldn't tell me anything—but somehow I knew. And then the papers since—they're pretty ghastly,' said Nelly, with a faint laugh and a shiver. 'The farm under the hill there'—she pointed—'you know about them?'
'Yes. I saw them after the telegram,' said Miss Martin, sadly. 'Of course it was the only son. These small families are too awful. Every married woman ought to have six sons!'
Nelly dropped her face out of sight, shading it with her hands.
Presently she said, in a dreamy voice of content—
'I shall get a letter to-morrow.'
'How do you know?'