'Hester, for God's sake, get her sister!'
'What is it?' gasped Hester. 'Is he killed?'
'No—"Wounded and missing!" Poor, poor child!'
'Where is she?'
'She's sitting there—dazed—with the telegram. She's hardly said anything since it came.'
Hester ran on. There on a green edge of the bank sat Nelly staring at a fluttering piece of paper.
Hester sank beside her, and put her arms round her.
'Dear Mrs. Sarratt!'
'What does it mean?' said Nelly turning her white face. 'Read it.'
'"Deeply regret to inform you your husband reported wounded and missing!"'