“Did you meet either of them young Stellings?”
And Ernie laughed rather uproariously and said no, he didn’t have the pleasure of renewing their acquaintance.
On his way home, it appeared, he had reported himself at headquarters, and his discharge was inevitable.
“So now you’ll be able to finish the rabbit-hutch,” said Lily’s husband, and we all laughed again, with the exception of Mrs. Ward.
I found her later standing alone in the garden. It was a warm Spring night. There was no moon, but the sky appeared restless with its burden of trembling stars. She had an old shawl drawn round her shoulders, and she stood there very silently, with her arms crossed.
“Well, this is splendid news, Mrs. Ward,” I said.
She started a little, and coughed, and pulled the shawl closer round her.
She said, “Yes, sir,” very faintly.
I don’t think she was very conscious of me. She still appeared immersed in the contemplation of her inner visions. Her eyes settled upon the empty house next door, and I thought I detected the trail of a tear glistening on her cheeks. I lighted my pipe. We could hear Ernie, and Lily, and Lily’s husband still laughing and talking inside.
“She used to make a very good puddin’,” Mrs. Ward said suddenly, at random. “Dried fruit inside, and that. My Ernie liked it very much....”