coming back, no doubt. But no, it was not Rose, for
instead of the handle of the door turning, there was a
ring and a knock.

It was a ring and a knock which sounded pleasantly
familiar. Mrs. Otway smiled as she turned into her
sitting-room. It was the first time she had smiled that
day.

Major Guthrie at last! It was half-past eleven
now; they could have a good long, comfortable talk,
and perhaps he would stop to lunch. Of course she
would have to eat humble pie about the war, but he
was the last man to say "I told you so!"

There were so many things she wanted to know,
which now she could ask him, secure of a sensible,
true answer. Major Guthrie, whatever his prejudices,
was a professional soldier. He really did know something
of military matters. He was not like the people
who lived in the Close, and who were already talking
such nonsense about the war. Mrs. Otway was too
intelligent not to realise the fact that they, whatever
their boasts, knew nothing which could throw real
light on the great adventure which was beginning, only
beginning, to fill all her thoughts.

Suddenly the door opened, and Anna announced,
in a grumpy tone, "Major Guthrie."

"I thought I was never going to see you again!"

There was an eagerness, a warmth of welcome in
Mrs. Otway's manner of which she was unconscious,
but which gave a sudden shock of pleasure, aye, and
perhaps even more than pleasure, to her visitor. He
had expected to find her anxious, depressed, troubled --
above all, deeply saddened by the dreadful thing

[[90]]

p089 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p090w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p091

v?