are not at home."). Anna was smiling in the friendliest
way at the Dean. He had always been in a very
special sense kind to her, and never kinder than during
the last fourteen weeks.

"Do you expect them back soon? It is very
urgent," he exclaimed, of course speaking German;
and the smile on Anna's face faded, so sad did he look,
and so concerned.

"Oh, most reverend Doctor!" she cried, joining
her hands together, "do not say that anything has
happened to the Betrothed of my young lady?"

"Yes," he said sadly. "Something has happened,
Anna, but it might be much worse. The Betrothed of
your young lady has been severely wounded. But reflect
on the wonderful organisation of our Red Cross!
Mr. Blake was wounded, I believe, yesterday afternoon,
and it is expected that he will be here, in Sir
Jacques Robey's care, in a few hours from now!"

Even as he was speaking, a telegraph boy hurried
up to the door.

"This is evidently to tell your ladies that which I
had hoped to be able to break to them. So I will not
stop now." And as Anna stared at him with woebegone
eyes, he said kindly:

"It might have been, as I said just now, infinitely
worse. I am told that there is a great difference between
the words _severely_ and _dangerously._ Had he
been dangerously wounded, he could not possibly have
been moved to England. And consider what a comfort
it will be to the poor girl to have him here, within
a stone's throw. Why, she will be able to be with him
all the time. Yes, yes, it might be worse -- a great

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v?