Though I hated to cause pain to Vera, I realised that I must immediately
tell her. The thought of breaking the terrible news to her upset me,
yet the thing had to be faced.
Never shall I forget those awful moments. I had tried to break the news
gently, but how can such tragic news be broken "gently"? That
conventional word is surely a mockery when used in such a connexion.
She was devoted to her parents. What seemed to trouble her now more
than anything else, was the fact that we did not know her mother's
whereabouts, and so could not inform her of the frightful _contretemps_.
"Try not to worry, dearest," I said, placing my hand tenderly upon her
shoulder, and kissing her upon the lips in an endeavour to soothe her.
"We are bound very soon to find out where she is."
"Yes," she retorted bitterly, "and by that time--by that time poor
father may be dead!"