He could not think of anything to say....
"It's from the War Office, mother," Mary said.
He stood ready to put his arms about her and support her....
"Give it to me," she said, holding out her hand for the telegram, and he passed it to her.
They stood silently before her while she read it. Then Mary went close to her. "Mother!..." she said.
Mrs. Graham did not make any answer to Mary. She still held the telegram in her hands, and gazed at it, reading it over and over....
"Mother, dear!" Mary reached up, and put her arms about her mother's neck.
"Yes, Mary," she answered very calmly.
But Mary could not say any more. She buried her head on her mother's shoulder, and the tears that she had been holding back, would not be held back any longer, and sobs burst from her that seemed as if they would choke her.
"My dear," said Mrs. Graham, raising Mary's face to hers, "we must ... we must be brave!"