She was still wearing her travelling coat, and her air of fatigue was unmistakable.
Griffiths, who had not taken his eyes off her since her entrance, wheeled an easy-chair towards the hearth-rug, into which she sank with a murmured word of thanks.
"You'll have some tea, won't you, dear ?" Helen enquired.
Philippa shook her head.

Her eyes met her friend's for a moment--it was only a very brief glance, but the tragedy of some mutual sorrow seemed curiously revealed in that unspoken question and answer.

The two young subalterns prepared to take their leave.

Nora, kneeling down, stroked her stepmother's hand.
"No news at all, then ?" Helen faltered.
"None," was the weary reply.
"Any amount of news here, Mummy," Nora intervened cheerfully, "and heaps of excitement.

We had a Zeppelin over Dutchman's Common last night, and she lost her observation car.