Yet he felt that the suspense would be a serious trial.

He did not know how to tell his mother.

She met him at the gate.
His serious face and lagging steps revealed the truth, exciting at first apprehensions of something even more serious.
For two days they remained without news.

Then came a letter from the absent father, which wonderfully lightened all their hearts.

The fact that he was able to write a long letter with his own hand showed plainly that his wound must be a trifling one.