n
catching the doctor's eye.

"But in our sympathy with our brave soldiers we are all one, Mrs.
Hewel."

Sarah sprang forward. "You don't mean to say you're _still_ a
pro-Boer, Sir Timothy?" she exclaimed. "Well, mamma--talking of the
justice of the war--when Tom and Willie are risking their lives"--she
broke into a sudden sob--"and now _Peter_--"

"Peter!" said Lady Mary.

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Sarah, running to her friend. "I didn't mean to
hurt _you_--talking of the war--and--and the boys--when you must be
thinking only of Peter." She wrung her hands together piteously.

"Of Peter!" Lady Mary repeated.

"We only heard to-day," said Mrs. Hewel, "and came in hoping for more
details. My cousin George, who is also going out with Lord Ferries,
happened to mention in his letter that Peter had joined the corps."

"I think I can explain how the mistake arose," said Sir Timothy,
stiffly. "Peter wrote for permission to join, and I refused. My son
is fortunately too young to be of any use in a contest I regard with
horror."

"But Cousin George was helping Peter to get his kit, because they were
to sail at such short notice," cried Sarah.

"Sarah," said her mother, in breathless indignation, "_will_ you be
silent?"

"What does this mean, Timothy?" said Lady Mary, trembling.

She stood by the centre table; and the hanging lamp above shed its
light on her brown hair, and flashed in her blue eyes, and from the
diamond ring she wore.

The doctor rose from his chair.

"I am at a loss to understand," said Sir Timothy.

"It means," said Sarah, half-hysterically,--"oh, can't you see what it
means? It just means that Peter is going to South Africa, whether you
like it or not."

"There must be some mistake, of course," said Mrs. Hewel, in
distressed tones. "And yet--George's letter was so very clear."

Dr. Blundell touched the canon's arm.

"Shall I--must I--" whispered the canon, nervously.

"There is no help for it," said the doctor. He was looking at Lady
Mary as he spoke. Her face was deathly; her little frail hand grasped
the table.

"Sir Timothy," said the canon, "I--I have a communication to make to
you."

"On this subject?" said Sir Timothy.

"A letter from Peter."

"Why did you not say so earlier?" said Sir Timothy, harshly.

"I will explain, if you will kindly give me five minutes in the
study."

"A letter from Peter," said Lady Mary, "and not--to me."

She looked round at them all with a litt