It was a relief to him to hear it in the first instance not from Raby's lips, for he never knew what to do or say on such occasions.
"Miss Atherton must be very proud," said he, returning to his work.
He was not, however, destined to remain long undisturbed.

Raby, radiant and excited, entered the library a few minutes later.
"Mr Jeffreys," said she, "such splendid news.

Has uncle told you?
I thought you would like to read the telegram; here it is." Jeffreys looked his congratulations as he took the paper.
"Read it aloud, Mr Jeffreys," said the happy girl, "I should like to hear how it sounds." Jeffreys smiled and began to read; Raby, who knew it all by heart, seeming to check off every word.
Suddenly, however, in the middle of the narrative the reader started and changed colour, and became unaccountably breathless.
"The guns meanwhile, escorted by--" he had got so far.
"`Captain Forrester of the--Hussars.' Go on," said Raby.
It needed all his self-command to finish the reading, and when he came to the end and handed back the paper, Raby perceived that his hand shook and his face was deadly pale.
"Why, what is the matter, Mr Jeffreys ?" said she, suddenly alarmed herself; "it is good news, isn't it?
and he has only got a scratch!" "Yes, it is good news; and I congratulate you." "But you look--perhaps you know some one who has been killed.

You never told me you had any friend out there." "I have not.

I think I must be not quite well; will you excuse me ?" And he went out into the open air, leaving Raby very much perplexed and concerned.