He knew that there would not be any answer....
The boy went off, looking back at them now and then, over his shoulder.
"Shall I open it, Mary!" Henry said.
"Do you think?..." She did not complete her sentence for she was afraid to utter the thought that was in her mind.
"If it should be bad news," Henry said, "we'd ... we'd better prepare her for it!"
They stood there, holding the telegram still unopened, as if they could not make a decision....
"Open it, Quinny!" Mary said at last, and he opened the buff envelope and took out the form.
The Secretary for War regretted!...
He looked up from the telegram, and saw that Mary was standing in a strained attitude, waiting for him to speak.
"Is it ... is it that?" she said, almost in a whisper.