wealthy man, but Jervis was entirely dependent on his
father, and his father might not like him to marry
yet.

The fact that Rose had told her mother of her engagement
had had another happy effect. It had restored,
in a measure, the good relations between Mrs.
Otway and her faithful old servant, Anna Bauer.
Anna kept to herself the fact that she had guessed the
great news long before it had become known to the
mother, and so she and her mistress rejoiced together
in the beloved child's happiness.

And Rose was happy too -- far happier than she had
yet been since the beginning of the War. Twice in
recent letters to her Jervis had written, "I wish you
would allow me to tell my people -- you know what!"
and now she was very, very glad to release him from
secrecy. She was too modest to suppose that General
and Lady Blake would be pleased with the news of
their only son's engagement. But she felt it their due
that they should know how matters stood betwixt her
and Jervis. If they did not wish him to marry soon,
she and Jervis, so she assured herself, would be quite
content to wait.

Towards the end of that peaceful week there came
quite an affectionate telegram from Lady Blake, explaining
that the great news had been sent to her and
to her husband by their son. The telegram was followed
by a long loving letter from the mother, inviting
Rose to stay with them.

Mrs. Otway would not acknowledge even to herself
how relieved she felt. She had been afraid that
General Blake would regard his son's engagement as
absurd, and she was surprised, knowing him slightly

[[237]]

p236 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p237w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p238

v?