Major Heathcote's eyes were fixed on the pink slip in his hand, and Philippa, who was watching him, saw his face darken suddenly and his rather square jaw shoot forward as a strong man's will in the face of danger.
Then he rose quickly and walked round to his wife.
"Old girl!" he said, "I am afraid the boy isn't very fit--Jack wires that he seems seedy, and that they have got a man over from York. Don't be anxious, it's probably nothing much--but I think I'll run up and see."
"Dickie! Oh, Bill!" faltered Marion. "What does he say? Let me see."
"That's all. Just 'Dickie doesn't seem well, have wired for Stevens from York,'" he repeated. His hand was tightly clenched on the crumpled ball of paper. "Wait a moment, darling. Let me think a minute----"
"Yes! Ford! The car round at once, please,"--he gave the order sharply,--"and bring me a Bradshaw. I think I can get to Eastminster in time to catch the 9.15, which should get to Carton Junction in time for the North Express. Now, dearest,"--he turned to his wife again,--"you must try not to be too anxious. I will----"
Marion had regained her composure, and rising she laid her hand on his arm. "All right, Bill," she interrupted quickly. "I'm coming--you are quite right--we must hope for the best. How long can you give me?"
"Ten minutes."
"Very well. I won't keep you waiting." She was half across the room as she spoke.
"Is there anything I can do?" asked Philippa. It hardly seemed the moment to offer anything but the most practical form of sympathy to the man who stood motionless just as his wife had left him, with his eyes fixed upon the chair she had quitted. Her question recalled him to himself with a start, but he did not reply.
"I am afraid there was more in the telegram than you told Marion," she said gently.
"Yes," he answered huskily. "I won't tell her--yet. It said 'Come at once--very anxious.'" Then something between a sob and a groan burst from him, and he squared his shoulders. "But we must----" Then he turned and went away. The sentence wasn't finished. That obvious pitiful platitude with which most of us are only too sadly familiar--that phrase which comes most naturally to our lips when our hearts are torn and bleeding with anxiety and the very earth seems to rock beneath our feet. Often when we are tortured with enforced inaction and we do nothing--can do nothing--but hope for the best. So easy to say, but oh, how difficult to do!