War Author:William Heinemann Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: [It is still half dark, and the curtains are partially drawn. A sleepy maidservant, who has the appearance of having been up all night, comes in, draws the curta... more »ins and opens a window, letting in early sunlight. She dusts superficially, and seeing Frances asleep on the sofa and Fred in his chair, awake and alert, moves noiselessly past the former and hands Fred the morning paper, which is Greased and untidy. [Unfolding the paper, which crackles and awakens Frances.] I thought you would never wake up. I have sat and watched—watched you in here and the night out there. FRANCES What did you see out there? Only the dark night and a few flashes. FRANCES Flashes ? As if there were a fire raging yonder.' The sky was red. FRANCES I don't feel as if I had slept. I am cold. Close that window, Emily. Yes, ma'am. FRANCES What is the time ? It must be nearly eight o'clock: you've slept ten hours without moving. FRANCES Without moving ? It seemed so lifelike—so real. Is there no news from George ? Not since last night. The shooting ceased at midnight. It must all be over by now. FRANCES Where is your mother ? Is she still asleep ? And the General ? They retired when the firing stopped, to rest without going to bed. That was late. I've sat here all night. They wanted to wake you and take you upstairs. But you slept so soundly that I protested. FRANCES I am glad you did. I could not have slept up there, thinking of George with his wound : he might have come in the night and have wanted me. Is there no news from Lucy ? Has she returned ? Lucy is still out there, the little brick. She won't come back just yet FRANCES Nothing can now prevent her marrying Hitchcock Hitchcock—he's too good for any woman. FRANCES Not every ...« less