“Why don't you tell me?” she said, with a passionate tightening of his hand. “It's bad news, isn't it? Are you going away?”
“Somebody who went away will never come back,” he answered.
“Is it—Pete?”
“Poor Pete is gone,” said Philip.
Her throat fluttered. “Gone?”
“He is dead,” said Philip.
She tottered, but drew herself up quickly. “Stop!” she said. “Let me make sure. Is there no mistake? Is it true?”
“Too true.”
“I can bear the truth now—but afterwards—to-night—tomorrow—in the morning it might kill me if——”
“Pete is dead, Kate; he died at Kimberley.”