know that she was going to tell her private concerns
to a stranger, and not to the sister of an acquaintance
living at Witanbury.

The few meagre facts were soon told, and then she
gave her own name and address as the person to whom
the particulars, if any came through, were to be forwarded.

"I'll see that the inquiries are sent on to Geneva
tonight. But you mustn't be disappointed if you get
no news for a while. Sometimes news is a very long
time coming through, especially if the prisoner was
wounded, and is still in hospital." The stranger added,
with real sympathy in her voice, "I'm afraid you're
very anxious, Mrs. Otway. I suppose Major Guthrie
is your brother?"

And then the other answered quietly, "No, he's
not my brother. Major Guthrie and I are engaged to
be married."

The kind, sweet face, itself a sad and anxious face,
changed a little -- it became even fuller of sympathy
than it had been before. "You must try and keep up
courage," she exclaimed. "And remember one thing --
if Major Guthrie was really severely wounded, he's
probably being very well looked after." She waited
a moment, and then went on, "In any case, you haven't
the anguish of knowing that he's in perpetual danger;
my boy is out there, so I know what it feels like to
realize that."

There was a moment of silence, and then, "I wonder,"
said Mrs. Otway, "if you would mind having
the inquiries telegraphed tonight?" She opened her
bag. "I brought a five-pound note----"

But the other shook her head. "Oh, no. You

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v?