"I have news," he began at last, reluctantly.
"News?" she cried. "From home? About any one there? Not bad?"
"Yes, bad, but not from home at all. News that I wish you need never hear; but this cannot be helped; and I know all that can be known about the matter. Shall I tell you?"
"Yes," she answered, faintly.
"It is about Edmonson."
"I thought so."
"And Harwin."
"Yes. They"—
"They fought," he finished,—"yes. I don't know how they managed it, nor how Harwin could leave the fleet, but in some way he did." The speaker paused.
"Well?" she said, tremulously, after a silence.