He would have the telegrams read to him night and morning.

And he would lie brooding over them for long afterwards.

The Rector came to see him, and Desmond accepted gratefully his readings and his prayers.

But they were scarcely done before he would turn to Elizabeth, and his eager feverish look would send her to the telephone to ask Arthur Chicksands at the War Office if Haig's mid-day telegram was in--or any fresh news.
On the 20th of March, Chicksands, who had been obliged to go back to his work, came down again for the night.

Desmond lay waiting for him, and Arthur saw at once that death was much nearer.