"My dear little woman!" he murmured. "My little sweetheart! You
don't know how I've ached to explain everything to you--including
the Russian ladies."
"Explain them at once, sir!" Philippa insisted, pretending to draw
her face away for a moment.
"They were the wife and sister-in-law of the Russian Admiral,
Draskieff, who was sent over to report upon our method of mine
laying," he told her.
"You and I have to go up to a little dinner they are giving to-morrow
or the next day."
"Oh, dear, what an idiot I was!" Philippa exclaimed ruefully. "I
imagined--all sorts of things. But, Henry dear," she went on, "do
you know that we have a great surprise for you--here in the house?"
"No surprise, dear," he assured her, shaking his head. "I knew the
very hour that Richard left Wittenberg. And here he is, by Jove!"
Richard and Helen entered together. Philippa could not even wait
for the conclusion of the hearty but exceedingly British greeting
which passed between the two men.
"Listen to me, both of you!" she cried incoherently. "Helen, you
especially! You never heard anything so wonderful in your life!
They weren't fishing excursions at all. There weren't any whiting.
Henry was laying mines all the time, and he's blown up half the
German fleet! It's all in the Times this morning. He's got a D.
Pages:
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269