"No, no," murmured Rose firmly, "Bertha needs you most now; you must
go," and then, fearing her mother might think she did not want her
quite, quite enough, "I shall look forward to your coming back soon,
very soon."

"Could you--could you come and sleep in my room, Rose?" They were
standing up by the fireplace now.

"If you like mother, only it will be worse for me to-morrow night." They
both looked away from the fire round the room--the room that had been
hers since the first days after the honeymoon.

Then at the same moment Lady Charlton opened her arms and Rose drew
within them, and leant her fair head on her mother's shoulder. So they
stood for a few moments in absolute stillness.

"God bless you, my child," and Rose was left, as she wished, alone.




CHAPTER III

"AS YOU HOPE TO BE FORGIVEN"


Two months passed, and at last the War Office received a parcel for Lady
Rose Bright. It had been sent to headquarters by the next officer in
command under Sir David, who had met his own fate a few weeks later.