"
Mrs. Wilders left the hospital, hesitating greatly what she should do.
She would have liked to see and speak with Lydstone, but she had
enough good feeling not to intrude by following him on board the
yacht.
Then she resolved to attend the funeral too. It would show her
sympathy, and Lord Lydstone would be bound to notice her.
He did see her, and came up after the ceremony to shake her hand.
"I am so sorry for you," she began.
"It is too terrible!" he exclaimed. "Both in one day."
He had heard of Balaclava, then.
"But I can't talk about it to-day. I will call on you to-morrow, if I
may, in the morning. I am going back to England almost at once."
He came next day, and she received him in her little sitting-room at
Misseri's.
"You know how I feel for you," she said, giving him both her hands,
her fine eyes full of tears. "They were such splendid young fellows,
too. It is so sad--so very sad."
"I am very grateful for your sympathy. But we will not talk about
them, please," interrupted Lord Lydstone.
"You have my warmest and most affectionate sympathy. Is there anything
I can do to console you, to prove to you how deeply, how sincerely, I
feel for you?"
Her voice faltered, and she seemed on the point of breaking down.
"What news have you of the general?" asked Lord Lydstone, rather
abruptly, as though to change the conversation.
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