out so that it creased around the eyes and stretched tight across her
hands to show the knuckles more prominently and the blueness of veins
beneath it. She was plumper also, her bosom was full and round, each
breast having lost its separate identity in the whole.
Yet the other qualities whose memories he had treasured so long ago
still persisted, seemed indeed to have grown stronger; the composure
which showed in the stiffness of her hands and body, yet was given the
he by the humour that hovered around her lips; the eyes whose depths
held compassion and a sure understanding of those things they looked
upon. But mostly it was the indefinable aura of goodness about
her-looking at her, he sensed again that behind those eyes no
destructive thought could live for long.
Sean lit a cheroot and spoke while the smoke masked his face.
'Yes, Ma. I must go.'
And Ada, whose husband had ridden to war also, and not ridden home,
could not prevent the sadness showing for an instant in her eyes.
'Yes, I suppose you must. Garry has gone already-and Michael has been
agitating to follow him.
'Michael?' Sean fired the question.
'Garry's son-he was born a short while after-after you left Ladyburg.
He will be eighteen this winter.'
'What's he look like?' Sean's voice was too eager. Michael-so that is
what my son is named. My first-born. By God, my firstborn, and I
didn't even know his name until he was almost grown. Ada was looking
at him with her own question unasked in her eyes.
'Mary, take Dirk through to the bathroom please. Try and get a little
of that food from around his mouth. ' When they had gone she answered
Sean's question.
'He's a tall boy, tall and lean. Dark like his mother, but a serious
lad. He doesn't laugh much. Always top of his class. I like him very
much. He comes here often.' She was silent for a moment, then,
'Sean. . . ' Quickly Sean cut in. 'And how is Garry?' He sensed what
she was going to ask.
'Garry has not changed very much. He has had a run of bad luck Poor
Garry, things have been bad on the farm. The rinderpest ravaged his
herds, he had to borrow money from the bank. She hesitated an instant.
'And he is drinking a lot these days. I can't be sure of it-he never
visits the hotel and I have never seen him take a drink.
But it must be that.
'I'll find out where he is when I go up to Colenso.
'You'll have no difficulty finding him. Garry is a lieutenant-colonel
on the General's staff. He was given promotion from major last week,
and he has been awarded the Distinguished Service Order to go with his
Victoria Cross. He is in charge of liaison between the Imperial and
the Colonial troops.
'Good God!' Sean was stunned. 'Garry a colonel!'
'General Buller ads very highly of him. 'The General is also a holder
of the Victoria Cross.
'But,' Sean protested. 'You know how Garry got that decoration.
It was a mistake. If Garry is on the General's staff then Lord have
