He sat her down by the fire and went into the next room.  He had a letter in his hand when he returned.  Joan noticed that the envelope was written upon across the corner, but she was not near enough to distinguish the handwriting.  He placed it on the mantelpiece and sat down opposite her.

“So you have come to love the dear old chap,” he said.

“I have always loved him,” Joan answered.  “It was he didn’t love me, for a time, as I thought.  But I know now that he does.”

He was silent for a few moments, and then he leant across and took her hands in his.

“I am going,” he said, “where there is just the possibility of an accident:  one never knows.  I wanted to be sure that all was well with you.”

He was looking at the ring upon her hand.

“A soldier boy?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered.  “If he comes back.”  There was a little catch in her voice.

“I know he’ll come back,” he said.  “I won’t tell you why I am so sure.  Perhaps you wouldn’t believe.”  He was still holding her hands, looking into her eyes.

“Tell me,” he said, “did you see your mother before she died.  Did she speak to you?”

“No,” Joan answered.  “I was too late.  She had died the night before.  I hardly recognized her when I saw her.  She looked so sweet and young.”

“She loved you very dearly,” he said.  “Better than herself.  All those years of sorrow:  they came to her because of that.  I thought it foolish of her at the time, but now I know she was wise.  I want you always to love and honour her.  I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t right.”

She looked at him and smiled.  “It’s quite easy,” she answered.  “I always see her as she lay there with all the sorrow gone from her.  She looked so beautiful and kind.”

He rose and took the letter from where he had placed it on the mantelpiece.  He stooped and held it out above the fire and a little flame leaped up and seemed to take it from his hand.

They neither spoke during the short walk between the two hotels.  But at the door she turned and held out her hands to him.

“Thank you,” she said, “for being so kind—­and wise.  I shall always love and honour her.”

He kissed her, promising to take care of himself.

She ran against Phillips, the next day, at one of the big stores where she was shopping.  He had obtained a commission early in the war and was now a captain.  He had just come back from the front on leave.  The alternative had not appealed to him, of being one of those responsible for sending other men to death while remaining himself in security and comfort.

“It’s a matter of temperament,” he said.  “Somebody’s got to stop behind and do the patriotic speechifying.  I’m glad I didn’t.  Especially after what I’ve seen.”

He had lost interest in politics.