o her future parents-in-law, when early one afternoon the
Dean, who had been lunching with Mr. and Mrs. Robey, rang the bell of
the Trellis House.

_"Die Herrschaft ist nicht zu Hause"_ ("The family are not at home.").
Anna was smiling in the friendliest way at the Dean. He had always been
in a very special sense kind to her, and never kinder than during the
last fourteen weeks.

"Do you expect them back soon? It is very urgent," he exclaimed, of
course speaking German; and the smile on Anna's face faded, so sad did
he look, and so concerned.

"Oh, most reverend Doctor!" she cried, joining her hands together, "do
not say that anything has happened to the Betrothed of my young lady?"

"Yes," he said sadly. "Something has happened, Anna, but it might be
much worse. The Betrothed of your young lady has been severely wounded.
But reflect on the wonderful organisation of our Red Cross! Mr. Blake
was wounded, I believe, yesterday afternoon, and it is expected that he
will be here, in Sir Jacques Robey's care, in a few hours from now!"

Even as he was speaking, a telegraph boy hurried up to the door.

"This is evidently to tell your ladies that which I had hoped to be able
to break to them. So I will not stop now." And as Anna stared at him
with woe-begone eyes, he said kindly:

"It might have been, as I said just now, infinitely worse. I am told
that there is a great difference between the words _severely_ and
_dangerously_. Had he been dangerously wounded, he could not possibly
have been moved to England. And consider what a comfort it will be to
the poor girl to have him here, within a stone's throw. Why, she will be
able to be with him all the time. Yes, yes, it might be worse--a great
deal worse!" He added feelingly, "It is a very sad time that we are
_all_ living through."

He held out his hand and grasped the old woman's hard, work-worn fingers
very warmly in his. Dr. Haworth, as the good people of Witanbury were
fond of reminding one another--generally in a commendatory, though
sometimes in a complaining, tone--was a real gentleman.

* * * * *

There followed hours of that merciful rush and bustle which at such
moments go a long way to deaden suspense and pain. General and Lady
Blake were arriving this evening, and the spare room of the Trellis
House had to be got ready for them, and Rose's room--a lengthier matter
this--transformed into a dressing-room.

But at last everythi