Deanery, where the cherished youngest daughter tried
in vain to be "brave," and to conceal her miserable
state of suspense from her father and mother; over
"Robey's," all of whose young men were in the Expeditionary
Force; and very loweringly over the Trellis
House.

What was now happening over there, in France, or
in Flanders? People asked each other the question
with growing uneasiness.

The next day, that is, on the Tuesday, sinister rumours
swept over Witanbury -- rumours that the British
had suffered a terrible defeat at a place called
Mons.

In her restlessness and eager longing for news, Mrs.
Otway after tea went into the town. She had an excuse,
an order to give in at the Stores, and there the
newly-named Alfred Head came forward, and attended
on her, as usual, himself.

"There seems to be serious news," he said respectfully.
"I am told that the English Army has been encircled,
much as was the French Army at Sedan in
1870."

As he spoke, fixing his prominent eyes on her face,
Mr. Head's customer now suddenly felt an inexplicable
shrinking from this smooth-tongued German-born
man.

"Oh, we must hope it is not as bad as that," she
exclaimed hastily. "Have you any real reason for
believing such a thing to be true, Mr. Heg -- I mean,
Mr. Head?"

And he answered regretfully, "One of my customers
has just told me so, ma'am. He said the news had

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