Ronnie, in an unusual fit of thoughtfulness, had remembered her feeling about the publicity of telegrams.

She had so often scolded him for putting "darling" and "best of love" into messages which all had to be shouted by telephone from the postal town, into the little village office which, being also the village grocery store, was a favourite rendezvous at all hours of the day for village gossips.
It was quite unusually considerate of Ronnie to curb the glowing words he must have longed to pour forth.

The very effort of that curbing, had reduced him to a somewhat stilted adjective.
So Helen finished her lonely breakfast with thoughts of glad anticipation.

Ronnie's return was drawing so near.

Only two more breakfasts without him.