Calmly she took away the cloth about his mouth, loosened the straps about his legs and arms and body, and then she stood back, still speechless, her hands clutching at her bosom while she waited for him to step forth.
His first movement was to fall upon his knees beside Hodges.

He bowed his head, listened, and held his hand under the man's waistcoat.

Then he looked up.

The woman was bending over him, her eyes meeting his own unflinchingly.
"He is dead!" he said quietly.
"Yes, my brother, he is dead!" The sweet, low tones of the woman's voice rose scarcely above a whisper.
The meaning of her words sank into his very soul.
"My sister--" he repeated, hardly knowing that the words were on his lips.

"My--" "Or--your wife," she interrupted, and her hand rested gently for a moment upon his shoulder.