"We should be glad to hear, your ladyship," he said, "if there is
any news of Major Felstead?" Philippa shook her head.

"None at all, I am sorry to say, Mills! Still, we must hope for
the best. I dare say that some of these camps are not so bad as
we imagine."

"We must hope not, your ladyship," was the somewhat dismal reply.
"Shall I fasten the windows?"

"You can leave them until you draw the blinds, Mills," Philippa
directed. "I am not at home, if any one should call. See that
we are undisturbed for a little time."

"Very good, your ladyship."

The door was closed, and the two women were once more alone.
Philippa held out her arms.

"Helen, darling, come and be nice to me," she begged. "Let us both
pretend that no news is good news. Oh, I know what you are
suffering, but remember that even if Dick is your lover, he is my
dear, only brother--my twin brother, too. We have been so much to
each other all our lives. He'll stick it out, dear, if any human
being can. We shall have him back with us some day."

"But he is hungry," Helen sobbed. "I can't bear to think of his
being hungry. Every time I sit down to eat, it almost chokes me."

"I suppose he has forgotten what a whisky and soda is like,"