the fact that he was watching and waiting for his two big sons, even as
they were anxiously awaiting the return of their boys.

"It must be dreadfully lonely for him in that little cabin or house or
whatever you call it in the woods," Amy said one day as she and the girls
sauntered down to the dock where their motor boat was anchored. "And he
said he hardly ever had company."

"Goodness, I should think he would go crazy," Mollie commented. "Why, I go
almost mad when I don't have any one to talk to for an hour."

"I wonder if he lived in that little house all during the war," said Betty
thoughtfully. They had reached the dock and were walking slowly out upon
it. "If he did, it must have been dreadfully hard for him. It makes me
shiver to think of him sitting there all alone, reading the casualty list,
terrified for fear the next name would be that of his son----"

"Oh, Betty," cried gentle Amy, all her sympathy quickly roused by the
picture Betty had drawn, "what a dreadful thing to think of!"

"But he never did find their names among the missing or killed," Mollie
reminded them soberly. "We know that because he said he expected to see
them soon."

"Of course. And all we can do is hope with all our hearts that he gets his
wish," said Betty brightly, adding with a sudden change of subject: "But
away with dull care. The sun is shining and here's our fairy ship waiting
to carry us off to fresh adventure. What more could any one want, I'd like
to know."