He sank down into a chair and buried his head in his hands. "Gilbert's
dead," he said. "He's been killed!..."
Mary knelt beside him, and drew his head on to her shoulder. She did not
speak. There was nothing that could be said. She knew that Gilbert and
Henry had cared for each other as men seldom care ... and no one, not
even she, could bring comfort to the one who was left. So she just held
him....
10
Mrs. Graham had left them alone. Her fear had been for Ninian, and when
she heard Gilbert's name, her relief was such that she had hurried from
the room lest Henry, stricken by the death of his friend, should see her
face.
"I know now," he said when he was calmer, "what it was on the White
Cliff. He wanted to tell me, Mary. He wanted to tell me ... and I
wouldn't look round. Oh, my God, I wouldn't look round!"